Multiphysics Simulations of Colloidal Phase Separation

胶体相分离的多物理场模拟

• 批准号: 538269976
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Ghulam Destgeer
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Professur Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/538269976?language=en
• 关键词: Multiphysics; Simulations; Colloidal; Phase; Separation

Understanding the kinetics of colloidal phase transitions is a century old problem still investigated to date. Colloidal systems provide a great model system at a microscale level for studying the molecular or atomic interactions of matter during the phase transitions by using light microscopy. Phase transition kinetics have been extensively studied using a colloid-polymer (CP) system for almost half a century. However, important question in confining geometries and additional external fields are still open. Various simulation techniques and approaches have been developed to gain insights into phase separation of colloidal systems. While these simulation methods have contributed to our understanding of the colloidal phase separation phenomenon, limitations arise due to an oversimplified representation of system dynamics, overlooking factors like hydrodynamic interactions, gravitational sedimentation, thermal fluctuation, complex geometries, diverse particle properties, and challenges in incorporating external force fields. To address these limitations, we propose a numerical model based on the finite element method by combining multiple physics in a single model to comprehensively study colloidal phase transitions. Our proposed numerical model combines the hydrodynamic interactions of colloidal particles with multiple forces effecting the particle motion. The numerical model, validated by the experimental demonstrations, will provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex gelation process in a colloid polymer mixture.

了解胶体相变动力学是一个世纪的老问题，至今仍在研究。胶体系统为利用光学显微镜研究物质相变过程中分子或原子间的相互作用提供了一个微观尺度的模型系统。近半个世纪以来，人们利用胶体-聚合物体系对相变动力学进行了广泛的研究。然而，在限制几何和额外的外场的重要问题仍然是开放的。已经开发了各种模拟技术和方法来深入了解胶体系统的相分离。虽然这些模拟方法有助于我们理解胶体相分离现象，但由于系统动力学的过度简化表示，忽略了流体动力学相互作用，重力沉降，热波动，复杂的几何形状，不同的颗粒特性以及结合外力场的挑战等因素，因此存在局限性。为了解决这些局限性，我们提出了一个基于有限元方法的数值模型，将多个物理结合在一个模型中，以全面研究胶体相变。我们提出的数值模型结合了胶体颗粒的流体动力学相互作用和影响颗粒运动的多种力。数值模型，验证了实验演示，将提供一个全面的了解复杂的胶态聚合物混合物的凝胶化过程。