Monte Carlo simulation of the diffusion-limited aggregating process of particle suspension systems

Abstract

The aggregating process of particle suspension systems is a very universal phenomena and crucial for various processes both in nature and in industry. In this paper, the aggregating process was simulated with off-lattice diffusion-limited cluster-cluster aggregation (DLCA) Monte Carlo programs. The self-similar fractal structures of aggregates have been clearly demonstrated by the statistical analysis of gyration radius distribution and the existence of a scaling distribution of the reduced cluster size. The fractal dimension determined from the relationship between mass and gyration radius of aggregates was 1.80 or so. The fractal dimension of the aggregates drawn from the radial distribution function and structure factor of a single aggregate is about 1.90–2.10. It was also showed that, along with the increasing of particle volume fraction, the fractal dimension will increase in a nearly square root manner, and the spatial range of the fractal structure appearing becomes narrower. Also, the gelation transition can only occur in a particle suspension system where the particle volume fraction is greater than a critical value.