Colloids are submicron particles that are ubiquitous in nature (milk,
clay, blood) and industrial products (paints, drilling fluids, food). In
recent decades it has become clear that adding depletants such as
polymers or small colloids to colloidal dispersions allows one to tune
the interactions between the colloids and in this way control the
stability, structure and rheological properties of colloidal
dispersions. This book offers a concise introduction to the fundamentals
of depletion effects and their influence on the phase behavior of
colloidal dispersions. Throughout the book, conceptual explanations are
accompanied by experimental and computer simulation results.
From the review by Kurt Binder:
"They have succeeded in writing a monograph that is a very well balanced
compromise between a very pedagogic introduction, suitable for students
and other newcomers, and reviews of the advanced research trends in the
field. Thus each chapter contains many and up to date references, but in
the initial sections of the chapters, there are suggested exercises
which will help the interested reader to recapitulate the main points of
the treatment and to deepen his understanding of the subject. Only
elementary knowledge of statistical thermodynamics is needed as a
background for understanding the derivations presented in this book;
thus this text is suitable also for advanced teaching purposes, useful
of courses which deal with the physics for soft condensed matter.
There does not yet exist any other book with a similar scope.....
The readability of this book is furthermore enhanced by a list of
symbols, and index of keywords, and last not least by a large number of
figures, including many pedagogic sketches which were specifically
prepared for this book. Thus, this book promises to be very useful for
students and related applied sciences alike."
Eur. Phys. J. E (2015) 38: 73
