Surface-charge determination of crocidolite particles in suspension

Abstract

A B S T R A C T:The translatory and rotatory diffusion coefficients, electrophoretic mobility, permanent dipole moment, electrical polarizability and optical anisotropy factor for a crocidolite sol have all been measured in a single optical apparatus. Electrophoretic light-scattering and electrically-induced birefringence were the methods used, these being rapid and well-suited to particles in the micron and sub-micron size-range, where conventional electrophoresis is difficult. Electric birefringence offers a fast means of sizing mineral particles in suspension and the electrical polarizability and electrophoretic mobility have a common origin in such sols. This is discussed in terms of the surface-charge and electric double-layer characteristics of the particles.