Short-range interactions mediated by a solvent with surface adhesion

Abstract

At short range, interaction between two surfaces mediated by a solvent with surface adhesion is calculated in the hypernetted-chain approximation. A smooth monotonic attraction is found when the solvent-surface attraction is weak. There is also significant depletion of fluid densities near such surfaces. Depending on the solvent parameters, the interaction between a weakly attractive and strongly attractive surface can be repulsive or attractive. Extension of these calculations to include a Lennard-Jones solvent also indicates monotonic attractions. © 1978 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.