# Equilibrium concentration profiles and sedimentation kinetics of colloidal gels under gravitational stress

Source: [Equilibrium concentration profiles and sedimentation kinetics of colloidal gels under gravitational stress](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa303e1e209131ce87380e>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-24T18:04:44.528Z

Authors: Stefano Buzzaccaro, Eleonora Secchi, Giovanni Brambilla, R. Piazza, Luca Cipelletti

Published: 2012-02-29T07:52:44.000Z

## Abstract

We study the sedimentation of colloidal gels by using a combination of light scattering, polarimetry and video imaging. The asymptotic concentration profiles $\\varphi(z,t\\rightarrow \\infty)$ exhibit remarkable scaling properties: profiles for gels prepared at different initial volume fractions and particle interactions can be superimposed onto a single master curve by using suitable reduced variables. We show theoretically that this behavior stems from a power law dependence of the compressive elastic modulus \\textit{vs} $\\varphi$, which we directly test experimentally. The sedimentation kinetics comprises an initial latency stage, followed by a rapid collapse where the gel height $h$ decreases at constant velocity, and a final compaction stage characterized by a stretched exponential relaxation of $h$ towards a plateau. Analogies and differences with previous works are briefly discussed.

## Recorded benchmark results

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/1202.6474>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/1202.6474.pdf>)