DLVO Interaction between Colloidal Particles: Beyond Derjaguin’s Approximation

Van der Waals and electrostatic double layer interactions between two colloidal particles are evaluated from the corresponding interaction energies per unit area between two infinite flat plates using a recently developed technique, the surface element integration. Application of the technique to two interacting spheres results in predictions of interaction energies that are substantially more accurate compared to the predictions based on conventional Derjaguin's approximation. The superior results of the technique compared to Derjaguin’s approximation are attributed to the more rigorous consideration of particle curvature effects in the surface element integration technique.