Phase equilibria of bulk and confined colloid–polymer systems

The phase equilibria of aqueous colloid–polymer systems are studied theoretically and experimentally in three and two dimensions. The colloidal interactions are modeled by the depletion model, and the thermodynamic properties are evaluated from the colloid pair correlation functions, obtained in the Percus–Yevick approximation. The phases are identified by direct observation in three dimensions, and by enhanced video microscopy in two dimensions. Comparison is made between these theoretical predictions and experimental results.