Different routes into the glass state for soft thermo-sensitive colloids. Issue 24 (1st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rivas-Barbosa, Rodrigo; Lázaro-Lázaro, Edilio; Mendoza-Méndez, Patricia; Still, Tim; Piazza, Valeria; Ramírez-González, Pedro E.; Medina-Noyola, Magdaleno; Laurati, Marco
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 14:Issue 24(2018)
• Page Start: 5008
• Page End: 5018
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00285a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Different non-equilibrium routes lead to comparable dynamically arrested states of thermo-sensitive PNIPAM colloids. Abstract : We report an experimental and theoretical investigation of glass formation in soft thermo-sensitive colloids following two different routes: a gradual increase of the particle number density at constant temperature and an increase of the radius in a fixed volume at constant particle number density. Confocal microscopy experiments and the non-equilibrium self-consistent generalized Langevin equation (NE-SCGLE) theory consistently show that the two routes lead to a dynamically comparable state at sufficiently long aging times. However, experiments reveal the presence of moderate but persistent structural differences. Successive cycles of radius decrease and increase lead instead to a reproducible glass state, indicating a suitable route to obtain rejuvenation without using shear fields.