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We introduce a model gel system in which colloidal forces, structure, andrheology are measured by balancing the requirements of rheological andmicroscopy techniques with those of optical tweezers. Sterically stabilizedpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloids are suspended in cyclohexane (CH) andcyclohexyl bromide (CHB) with dilute polystyrene serving as a depletion agent.A solvent comprising of 37% weight fraction CH provides sufficient refractiveindex contrast to enable optical trapping, while maintaining good confocalimaging quality and minimal sedimentation effects on the bulk rheology. At thiscondition, and at a depletant concentration c = 8.64 mg/mL (c/c* = 0.81),results from optical trapping show that 50% of bonds rupture at 3.3 pN. Thelinear strain-dependent elastic modulus of the corresponding gel (volumefraction = 0.20) is G' = 1.8 Pa, and the mean contact number of the particlesin the gel structure is 5.4. These structural and rheological parameters aresimilar to colloidal gels that are weakly aggregating and cluster-like. Thus,the model gel yields a concomitant characterization of the interparticleforces, microstructure, and bulk rheology in a single experimental system,thereby introducing the simultaneous comparison of these experimental measuresto models and simulations.

A model colloidal gel for coordinated measurements of force, structure, and rheology