Strongly Aggregated and Coagulated Systems

Russel et al.16 pointed out that this approach is over-simplistic in not 

We have assumed that a random packed structure is more likely at high rates with a distribution of floe sizes. The volume fraction of floes will depend upon the floe packing fraction, giving rise to a floe diameter 2af with particles per floe  

There are many other forms of clay including synthetic clays such as laponite, a synthetic hectorite. Suitable tuning of the properties of these systems can produce similar structures. These systems have the advantage of small particle size and a relatively improved level of particle monodispersity over their naturally occurring counterparts and are being increasingly used as rheology modifiers. 

The aggregation of spherical particles such as small particles of silica have been modelled by a fractal approach.16,17 Fractal mathematics can 

The term D is called the fractal index and represents the packing change with distance from the centre of the floe. Computer simulation and experiments allow the value of D to be related to the mechanism of aggregation. Typical values are for  

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