Applied Colloid and Surface Chemistry

• evaluate and describe colloidal nano-technological and chemical systems, processes and products
• use different theories to calculate surface and interfaces tensions and use this to estimate e.g. wetting and other system characteristics
• identify mechanisms for adhesion between surfaces and materials and use different methods to estimate this
• describe the most important and fundamental theories in surface chemistry
• explain micellation of surfactants, know how to measure this and calculate dependencies of salt concentration, system temperature and surfactant chain length
• compare and understand adsorption in gas-liquid and solid-liquid surfaces and perform quantitative adsorption calculations
• calculate molar mass and molecular shape of colloid particles and polymers based on experimental data
• describe the interactions between colloidal particles and identify similarities and differences for the governing molecular forces and interactions
• explain the most important parameters for the theories of colloidal interaction and perform calculations using the theories
• describe the conditions for stability of colloidal systems and discuss and compare different mechanisms for stabilization
• describe mechanisms for stabilization of emulsions and foam, and design emulsions and foam by using various semi-empirical methods

i. Common presentation of colloidal and surface phenomena
ii. Theories for calculating surface tension (in air), liquid-liquid interfacial tensions as well as interfacial tensions for solid surfaces
iii. Fundamental theory (Young-Laplace, Kelvin equation, Young’s equation for contact angle and Gibbs adsorption theory)
iv. Surfactants – detergents: micellation (critical micellar concentration, CMC) adsorption of surfactants on surfaces
v. Adsorption at gas-liquid, liquid-liquid and solid-liquid surfaces. Langmuir and BET theories
vi. Wetting and adhesion – mechanisms and calculations including Zisman’s plot
vii. Kinetic, optical and electric properties of colloidal particles
viii. Experimental metods for characterising colloidal particles – estimation and measurement of structure, size and shape
ix. Intermolecular og interparticle forces: van der Waals and double-layer forces (zeta potential, Debye thickness, Hamaker constant)
x. Stability of colloidal systems. DLVO theory and steric stabilization
xi. Emulsions and foam, (HLB, Bankroft-rule, etc.)

26201, A relevant Bachelor degree

Class lectures and group work

The course is recommended together with the January course 28316, which is the experimental “hands-on” equivalent to this course.
The following textbook is used in the course: G. M. Kontogeorgis og S. Kiil, Introduction to Applied Colloid and Surface Chemistry, 2016, Wiley.