Colloids

Solid Sol
Colloids
A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed
evenly throughout another one. A colloidal system
consists of two separate phases: a dispersed phase
and a continuous phase. A colloidal system may be
solid, liquid, or gaseous.
Solid Sol
A solid sol is a colloid where the continuous
phase and the disperse phase are solids. The
dispersed substance is called the disperse phase
and the substance it is dispersed in is called the
disperse phase.
Structure of Particles
The dispersed-phase particles have a diameter of
between approximately 5 and 200 nanometers. Such
particles are normally invisible to an optical
microscope, though their presence can be confirmed
with the use of an ultra microscope or an electron
microscope. Homogeneous mixtures with a dispersed
phase in this size range may be called colloidal
aerosols, colloidal emulsions, colloidal foams, colloidal
dispersions, or hydrosols. The dispersed-phase
particles or droplets are affected largely by the
surface chemistry present in the colloid.
Some colloids are translucent because of the Tyndall
effect, which is the scattering of light by particles in
the colloid. Other colloids may be opaque or have a
slight color.
Applications and Examples
Black Pearls
Gemstones
Milky Glass
Metal Alloys
Milk (emulsified)

Advantages
The most promising advantages of the sol-gel
method is the fact that offers the possibility to
prepare solids with pre-determined structure by
varying the experimental conditions.
Solutions containing a large amount of water
and/or catalyzed by ammonia lead to non-linear
or network colloidal polymers in hydrolysis-poly
condensation process that could be converted to
bulk gels or powders;
Solution with small water content when catalyzed
by HCl, lead to linear polymers. Fiber could be
easily drawn from such solution immediately
before gelation or films could be deposited.
Disadvantages
High cost of raw materials
Large shrinkage during processing
Residual fine pores
Residual hydroxyl
Residual carbon
Health hazard of organic solution
Long processing time
Pictures on Solid Sol






Black Pearls






Gemstones






Milky Glass







Metal Alloys