Effect of Salt Concentration on the Pattern Formation of Colloidal Suspension

We study the effect of salt concentration on the drying process and pattern of thin liquid layer colloidal suspension. Panasonic camera is used to capture the drying process and macroscopic pattern. Microscopic patterns are analyzed by optical microscopy. It is shown that broad-ring pattern is avoided by adding little amount of sodium chloide into colloidal suspension. with the increase of salt concentraion, convection strength and interface instability are weakened, thus the edge of film becomes smooth and more homogeneous film forms. Beautiful microscopic patterns demonstrate that the cooperative interaction between sodium chloide and silica spheres has important influence on the pattern formation.