Contact Force Mediated Rapid Deposition of Colloidal Microspheres Flowing over Microstructured Barriers

Deposition of particles while flowing past constrictions is a ubiquitous phenomenon observed in diverse systems. Some common examples are jamming salt crystals near the orifice saltshakers, clogging filter systems, gridlock vehicular traffic etc. Our work investigates deposition events colloidal microspheres over microstructured barriers microfluidic devices. The interplay DLVO, contact and hydrodynamic forces facilitating rapid discussed. Noticeably, decrease electrostatic repulsion among leads to linear chain formations, whereas an increase roughness results deposition.