Electrophoresis and sedimentation of charged fibers

Abstract

The electrophoretic translational and rotational velocities of a fiber are determined in the limits L/d >> 1 and λ/d >> 1, where λ is the double layer thickness and L and d are the fiber length and diameter, respectively. The fiber translates due to the imposed electric field at a rate that increases with increasing double layer thickness. A nonuniformly charged fiber with a net charge dipole rotates until it becomes aligned with the electric field. The results for the translational and rotational velocities are obtained in a semianalytic form. The effect of the deformation of the ion cloud surrounding a charged sedimenting fiber on the fiber's translational and rotational velocities is also determined. The ion cloud retards the sedimentation velocity relative to that of an uncharged fiber with the same orientation. If the fiber possesses both a net charge and a charge dipole, it will rotate into a vertical alignment in which the end with the larger absolute charge is on top.