DLVOteoría

The DLVO theory, named after its developers B.I. Derjaguin, L.D. Landau, E. Verwey, and Th.G. Overbeek, is a fundamental framework in colloid science that describes the stability of suspensions composed of dispersed particles. Developed in the mid-20th century, this theory explains how electrostatic and van der Waals forces interact to determine whether particles in a colloidal suspension will aggregate or remain dispersed.

At its core, DLVO theory accounts for two primary types of forces between particles: attractive van der Waals forces and repulsive electrostatic forces. Van der Waals forces arise from temporary fluctuations in electron distribution, leading to weak but ubiquitous attractions between molecules and particles. Electrostatic repulsion, on the other hand, stems from the presence of surface charges on particles, which are typically balanced by counterions in the surrounding medium, forming an electrical double layer.

The theory quantifies the total interaction energy between two particles as a function of their separation distance. When particles are close, van der Waals forces dominate, pulling them together. However, as the distance increases, electrostatic repulsion becomes significant, preventing complete aggregation. The balance between these forces determines the stability of the suspension: a high energy barrier between particles indicates stable dispersion, while a low barrier favors flocculation.

DLVO theory has broad applications in fields such as materials science, environmental engineering, and pharmaceuticals, where controlling particle stability is essential. While it provides a useful qualitative and quantitative understanding, real-world systems often exhibit additional complexities, such as specific interactions or non-DLVO forces, which may require extensions or modifications to the theory. Despite these limitations, DLVO remains a cornerstone in the study of colloidal systems.