Delayed gravitational collapse of attractive colloidal suspensions.

The article delves into the phenomenon of delayed gravitational collapse in colloidal suspensions, specifically focusing on the resistance of colloidal gels to gravity. Through theoretical modeling, the study examines the delay time, which determines the shelf life of gel-based products, and sedimentation behavior. Factors such as initial volume fraction and particle interactions play a crucial role in understanding the collapse behavior of colloidal gels under gravitational forces. The research sheds light on the time evolution of sedimenting gels, density profiles, colloidal flux, and volume fractions, revealing distinct regimes of delay, linear settling, and exponential compaction. The study underscores the significance of dilatational viscosity and local density variations in comprehending the dynamics of colloidal gels under gravity, suggesting potential modifications to the model for better alignment with experimental findings and advocating for further research to incorporate erosion mechanisms and higher dimensions for a more holistic understanding of colloidal gel behavior. [Extracted from the article]