ABSTRACT CTS-9521662 The interparticle forces colloidal microstructure and rheological properties of two types of stable dispersions of spheres containing either polymeric stabilizers grafted to the particles or soluble associative three-block co-polymers will be investigated. Non- equilibrium statistical mechanics equations are used to described the colloidal microstructure. For the polymer-stabilized spheres, a new potential of the mean force, hydrodynamic functions accounting for the polymer layer and a method for generating the equilibrium distribution functions, are proposed. For the associative polymeric suspension, a non-equilibrium interparticles force similar to that in reversible network theories will be introduced in analysis. The proposed work has relevance to rheological characterization of polymer-stabilized suspensions, with particular relevance to advanced materials processing coatings. ***
