Inhibition of irreversible cluster–cluster aggregation of colloids

Off-lattice Monte Carlo simulation is employed to study the irreversible cluster–cluster aggregation in the presence of associative inhibitors. The colloid mean cluster size, and the cluster size distribution are analyzed as a function of number density and the amount of inhibitors. A comparative analysis between the cluster–cluster and particle–cluster aggregation mechanisms is presented. It is found, that simulation results predict quite well the properties of asphaltene colloid aggregates obtained experimentally.