Course description
The theoretical knowledge of colloids and surface sciences has advanced significantly during the last two decades and is now practically applied at a wide level in industries related to paints, polymers, nanomaterials, biotechnology, catalysis, waste treatment, etc. This course covers the fundamentals of the colloids and forces governing colloidal stability, in addition to the other related phenomena such as surface tension effects and biological applications of colloids.
Course Pre-Requisites: None
Course Learning Outcomes
- Apply the knowledge of thermodynamics to surfaces and colloid particles.
- Describe the effectiveness of surfactants based on its structure.
- Analyze the stability of colliodal particles based on DLVO theory and its applications in biological, chemical and environmental industries.
- Perform calculations on diffusion and sedimentation of nanoparticles.
Course Outline
In this course students will learn about: the physics of macromolecules; polymer thermodynamics, including Flory-Huggins lattice theory; polymer solutions, including de Gennes scaling theory; polyelectrolyte polymes (e.g. Bjerrun lengths, Debye-Huckle theory, Donnen equilibrium); networks and gels and how they are formed; viscoelasticity and how its characterized with rheology; and about chemical interactions in soft materials, particularly those of biological origin. Furhtermore, all the major colloidal systems will be studies, such as emulsions, suspensions, foams, etc. using examples from the petroleum industry to the food industry. In particular, it will be studied the stability of colloidal systems (e.g. DVLO theory).
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