Surface and Colloid Chemistry

The course consists of lectures and guided exercises. In the lectures, a survey of various colloidal systems (suspensions, emulsions, self-assembly systems) is given. An introduction into interfacial phenomena (surface tension, wetting, adsorption and the electrical double layer) and intermolecular (van der Waals) forces of significance for colloidal stability is given. Fundamental principles for experimental methods for measuring the phenomena are presented. Examples of the practical significance of colloidal systems in everyday life and industrial processes are provided, and a simple computer program is created. The guided exercises consists of computational and theoretical exercises related to principles and theories presented in the lectures.

At the end of the course the studens should be able to: - Describe colloidal systems and interfacial phenomena. - Describe fundamental principles and theories for stabilisation/destabilisation of colloidal systems. - Analysis and quantitative determination of the interfacial phenomena and behaviour of colloidal systems, using fundamental principles and theories, as well as basic knowledge within chemistry, physics and mathematics. - Identify problems in industrial processes with origin in surface and colloid chemistry.

Lectures and guided exercises, of which 5 of 9 must be approved in order to take the exam.