Thermodynamic properties and rheology of sterically stabilized colloidal dispersions.

A procedure for predicting thermodynamic, dynamic, and rheological properties of polymerically stabilized colloidal dispersions in good solvents by mapping onto an effective hard sphere dispersion is investigated and evaluated for its range of applicability. Configurational pressures and energies, calculted by Monte Carlo simulations, are used to assess the model's accuracy for predicting thermodynamic data. Similarly, long-time self-diffusivities, calculated by equilibrium Brownian Dynamic simulations, are used to assess the model's feasibility for predicting dynamic properties. Finally, zero shear viscosities are calculated by the method of hydrodynamic preaveraging and compared to rheological measurements. The various testing methods demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedure and suggest the model's range of applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]