ABSTRACT
In Section 9.1 it is stated that all lyophobic dispersions are thermodynamically unstable. They tend to change in such a way that the interfacial free energy will be minimized, causing an increase in particle size. Moreover, some lyophilic dispersions can become unstable if conditions like pH, ionic strength, or solvent quality change. In Chapter 12, the interaction forces involved are discussed, and additional basic information is given in Chapter 10. The instability can lead to a variety of changes, which are the subject of this chapter. The rate at which they will occur and the factors affecting them will be discussed. The particle size distribution, discussed in Section 9.3, is often an important variable.
