Polymer adsorption on colloidal particles

Abstract

We consider the adsorption of polymers on colloidal particles — spheres and cylinders — whose dimensions are comparable to solution polymer radii of gyration. Adsorption occurs if the « sticking energy » per monomer exceeds a certain threshold. For a colloidal particle, this threshold increases by an amount inversely proportional to its radius. In addition, the repulsive interactions between monomers limit the number which may be attached to a given particle. Thus, there is a characteristic degree of polymerization, N*, proportional to the surface area of the particle. For N < N *, one chain may completely clothe a given particle; for N > N*, a polymer chain is decorated by the colloidal particles like beads on a necklace