Redisperse

Redisperse is a term used primarily as a verb to describe the act of dispersing something again or anew. The word is not uniformly defined across disciplines and tends to be used in niche or technical contexts where re-establishing a prior distribution is important. In some writings, redisperse is treated as synonymous with redispersion or re-dispersion, though exact meaning can vary by field.

In materials science and colloids, redisperse refers to restoring a settled or agglomerated suspension to a workable dispersion. This is common in paints, pigments, and inks, where previously dispersed particles may settle or form aggregates during storage. Redisperse often requires mechanical energy and additives such as surfactants or dispersants to break up agglomerates and re-establish a stable suspension.

In ecology and agriculture, redisperse can describe secondary or repeated dispersal events of seeds or propagules after an initial dispersal. Such redistributions can be driven by animals, water, or wind and are discussed in studies of spatial spread, colonization, and habitat connectivity. The usage here is less standardized and varies with research focus.

In data processing or computational contexts, redisperse may be used to describe the reallocation or redistribution of data points, particles, or resources across partitions or regions after a balancing or reorganization step. This usage is more informal and field-specific.

Etymology derives redisperse from the prefix re- plus disperse, with emphasis on a second or renewed dispersion. See also disperse, redispersion, and related terms.