Colloidal dreams
SCI event preview: Rideal lecture, London 6 May 2008
In an afternoon event
on 6 May 2008, at SCI headquarters
in Belgrave Square, Julian Eastoe
(University of Bristol) will present this
year’s Rideal Lecture, entitled ‘Lightsensitive
surfactants’. An afternoon
symposium entitled ‘Rêves colloïdaux’
will precede this lecture. It will showcase
some of the latest advances in
colloid science. The exciting topics
range from optical response, transport
and environmental issues,
through to the restoration of historical
artefacts.
 |
| Mayonnaise: an everyday
colloidal emulsion |
The Rideal lecturer is selected on
the basis of a distinguished and
sustained contribution to colloid
and interface science. Julian Eastoe’s
interests are in the design, synthesis
and characterisation of novel surfactants,
for use with traditional
solvents, as well as ionic liquids
and CO2. In addition to lab-based
experimental techniques, such
as tensiometry, small-angle
neutron scattering is a key characterisation
tool.
David Snoswell (Cambridge) will
give the first talk on dynamic control
of diffraction within colloidal
crystals, providing one example of
a ‘smart’ application of responsive
colloids. Wuge Briscoe (Bristol) will
discuss the stubborn behaviour of
semi-fluorinated surfactants.
Continuing the theme of surfactant
applications, Peter Dowding
(Infineum) will explain how to design
surfactants for the stabilisation
of nanoparticles in nonaqueous
media.
As Feynman said, ‘there is plenty
of room at the bottom’, and
Justin Holmes (Cork) will present
an approach for preparing materials
at the nanoscale, using templated
nanowire assembly. Bernard
Binks (Hull) will present recent
work on emulsions
stabilised
by particlesurfactant
mixtures.
Finally, Piero
Baglioni
(Florence) will
show how colloidal
systems can be used in
the conservation of
cultural heritage.
The meeting is jointly sponsored
and organised by the Colloid
& Surface Chemistry Group of the
SCI and the Colloid and Interface
Science Group of the RSC. The two
sister committees meet regularly to
present a coherent front for colloid
science, particularly in the UK,
and together organise three or
four short conferences each year
to promote colloid and interface
science.
The symposium will be of interest
to those working in colloid and
interface science, both in academia
and in the wide range of industries
where this science is applied, including
agriculture, food, coatings,
and the pharmaceutical and
cosmetic industries.
Jeroen van Duijneveldt
SCI Colloid & Surface
Chemistry Group
|
