Analytical model of the static structure factor of a colloidal dispersion: interaction polydispersity effect

Abstract

An analytical model is presented of the static structure factor of a colloidal dispersion with interaction polydispersity. The model is based on the mean-spherical approximation (MSA) solution of the Ornstein–Zernike equation in a hard sphere Yukawa fluid. With the use of the model, the polydispersity effect is investigated in cases of a concentrated colloid and a salt-free aqueous dilute dispersion of polystyrene spheres. In the dilute case, the rescaled-MSA argument is used and experimental light scattering data given for comparison.