Glasses in Colloidal Systems. Attractive Interactions and Gelation

In this chapter, a study of the glass transitions in colloidal systems is presented, in connection with gelation, mainly from theoretical and simulation results. Mode Coupling Theory, which anticipated the existence of attraction driven glasses, is reviewed, and its predictions concerning attractive glasses discussed. Results from computer simulations will be presented for different models and the predictions of the theory will be tested. Starting from high density, where reasonable agreement is found, the study will be extended to low density, where new modes for the decay of density correlation functions appear. In all cases, the results will be also be brought into connection with experiments, and we will conclude with a discussion of the present understanding of the mechanisms leading to gelation.