Sedimentation and drying dissipative structures of colloidal silica (1.2 μm in diameter) suspensions in a glass dish and a polystyrene dish

Sedimentation and drying dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying colloidal silica spheres (1.2 μm in diameter) in aqueous suspension have been studied in a glass dish and a polystyrene dish. The broad ring patterns are formed within a short time in suspension state by the convection flow of water and colloidal spheres. The broad ring patterns are not formed when a dish is covered with a cap, which demonstrates the important role of the convectional flow of silica spheres and water accompanied with the evaporation of water on the air-suspension interface. The sedimentary spheres always move by the convectional flow of water, and the broad ring patterns became sharp with time. Broad ring and microscopic fine structures are formed in the solidification processes on the bases of the convectional and sedimentation patterns. Drying patterns of the colloidal suspensions containing sodium chloride are star-like ones, which strongly supports the synchronous cooperative interactions between the salt and colloidal spheres.