ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the modern state of this area of physical chemistry from a consideration of results obtained in fundamental studies of surface forces, which play a major role when distances between interacting particles or surfaces are comparable with the range of action of the said surface forces. The macroscopic theory of dispersion forces, initially developed by Lifshitz for a simple case of interaction between identical flat surfaces in vacuum, was later extended to more complex systems in his joint publication with Dzialoshinski and Pitaevski. For intermediate distances, dispersion forces are calculated using computer programs. Direct verification of the theory of dispersion forces was accomplished only for two model bodies interacting with each other in vacuum, or through a layer of a gas and a nonpolar liquid. For the calculation of electrostatic repulsive forces between like-charged surfaces, approximation of the surfaces with small potentials is applied most frequently.
