Initial rate constants for coagulation in the presence of energy minima of restricted depth

Abstract

An approximate solution of the Fuchs equations which describes non-steady state processes is derived. The derivation treats any secondary minimum in the interaction potential as an intermediate sink of finite depth into and out of which quasi-stationary fluxes may flow. The resulting expression for the rate constant reduces at sufficient depth of the energy minimum to the well known Smoluchowski constant for rapid coagulation and is 4πDR{exp(φ_s)–1} for intermediate depths (R is approximately the particle radius, |exp(φ_s)| is the depth of the secondary minimum in units of kT).