Hi Saransh,

Whilst both sedimentation and zeta potential can be used to infer colloidal stability, there is no relation between the two.

Sedimentation is governed by particle buoyancy (size and density) so you could have a particle with a high magnitude zeta potential but have particles so dense that they drop out of suspension rapidly.

Now there could be some relationship where low zeta potential indicates poor electrostatic stability, meaning particles then aggregate and these drop out of suspension and sediment, but this is not a universal case.

Saransh Mogha

As Alex explains above, there is only a tenuous link between sedimentation height and zeta potential. However, for a fixed system (the following example comes from 20 mg TiO2 in 20 mL DI water + additive), low concentrations of an ionic additive unsuited to stabilize the system produce a loose sediment. Higher concentrations, destroying the double layer, will produce a much more dense sediment. See the pictures on Slides 29 & 30 in the following webinar:

Dispersion and nanotechnology

https://www.brainshark.com/malvern/vu?pi=zHSznNgprz5chz0

no, not directly.

There is a direct correlation between packing density (can be transformed into sediment height values) and degree of flocculation (which might for a given system correlate with zeta potential). Further, packing density depends on particle shape and size distribution, potential segregation of size or material fractions. Highest packing density is expected for particles stable against agglomeration, e.g. for silica at its isoelectric point, lowest for highly flocculated particles. Depending on system there might be also a slow consolidation in sediment height.