We have used analytical centrifugation to probe zone settling and clarification of commercial fabric softeners formulated as both aqueous mixtures and filled with synthetic Laponite clay particles dispersed within.  In addition, we have also measured how sedimentation velocity is affected by temperature.  Analytical centrifugation is essentially a scheme by which simultaneous light scattering is tracked as a function of radial position while undergoing simultaneous centrifugal acceleration, commercially available through LUM Corporation.  We will present results of sedimentation velocity extracted through the LUMISIZER and resolve how it is affected by the formulation of the solution and extensive property variations.  We will also show the algorithm to infer colloidal vesicle size (~100nm or less) through analysis of so-called iso-concentration lines.  Correlations are made to the size and structure of other settling dispersions.  We hope to augment the work with added vesicle microscopy by the fall.

Analytical centrifugation of commercial fabric softener suspensions:  Determination of a Stokes sedimentation regime to infer particle size

244th National Meeting (2012)

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