Abstract
We use multispeckle dynamic light scattering to measure the dynamic structure factor, , of gels formed by aggregation of colloids. Although the gel is an elastic solid, nearly completely decays on long time scales, with an unusual form, , with and with . A model for restructuring of the gel with aging correctly accounts for this behavior. Aging leads to a dramatic increase in ; however, all data can be scaled on a single master curve, with asymptotically growing linearly with age. This behavior is strikingly similar to that predicted for aging in disordered glassy systems, offering convincing proof of the universality of these concepts.
- Received 6 October 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2275
©2000 American Physical Society