Abstract

A colloidal system represents a multiphase (heterogeneous) system in which at least one of the phases exists in the form of very small particles: typically smaller than 1 μm but still much larger than the molecules. Such particles are related to phenomena like Brownian motion, diffusion, and osmosis. The terms “microheterogeneous system” and “disperse system” (dispersion) are more general because they also include bicontinuous systems (in which none of the phases is split into separate particles) and systems containing larger, non-Brownian particles. The term dispersion is often used as a synonym of colloidal system.