Workshop dense colloidal suspensions: model materials, clays, cements

Dense colloidal suspensions are complex systems that are ubiquitous in nature and in many industrial applications, particularly in the field of construction materials (cements, concretes, clays, soils). Their rheology and mechanical properties result from complex interactions between suspended particles, influenced by gelling, structuring and chemical reactivity. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for optimizing material formulation, improving durability and developing more environmentally-friendly alternatives. The study of these suspensions is based on an interdisciplinary approach combining physics, chemistry and mechanics of materials, using advanced experimental and numerical tools to explore their behavior at different scales.

Within the framework of the DIM MaTerRE, a one-day workshop dedicated to dense colloidal suspensions is being organised on Tuesday 27 May 2025 at ESPCI Paris (amphi Holweck). This workshop will bring together experimentalists, modellers and theoreticians working on a variety of systems, from model materials to natural suspensions such as clays. The aim is to cross-fertilise approaches and expertise in order to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental mechanisms and explore new applications.

This day will focus on several themes:

• Modelling and numerical simulations: discrete methods (DEM, molecular dynamics) to understand the interactions between particles and the emergence of macroscopic properties.
• Experimental characterisation: advanced techniques (microscopy, X-ray scattering, particle tracking) to probe the microstructure and dynamics of suspensions.
• Rheology and mechanical behaviour: freezing, ageing, plasticity, flow transition, thickening, and multi-physics couplings.
• Applications to construction materials: innovative cements and concretes, admixtures, clays and geophysical processes, soil stability.