Ivan, I appreciate your addition to this complex problem (the more to consider the better the analysis), but must question your last paragraph:
"There is no doubt that HVAC silver sols are ionic, in that the particles carry a charge, as can be easily attested by a conductivity reading." Conductivity and charge are not solidly related, from what I have seen, specifically "a new deionizer cartridge (resin bed) with activated (fine) charcoal particles will make DW a dark and highly conductive suspension, with a steady falloff of conductivity as the particles settle". Is not a charcoal suspension the same as a metallic crystal suspension? Comments? and did you check if 'Zeta Potential' equipment is available to you? [email protected] Ivan said: "Another thing Guenter, As the AC wave form is sinusoidal, when the voltage passes through zero to the opposite sign, the attractive force is low but the particles having some inertia, drift further from the electrode. This and the fact that the solution acts to slow the propagation of the energy front (the electrical or electrostatic propagation relies on the movement of ions and lags and is slower than the input from the electrode) would also help to ensure the escape of the majority of the particles. Those particles that do find themselves reduced at the electrode may well be the first to be oxidised at the next change of phase. The reactions at the electrode are very complex and not as straight forward as I had previously thought, involving electrode polarisation, overpotential and so on... understanding the bulk solution chemistry is far more intuitive, I have found. There is no doubt that HVAC silver sols are ionic, in that the particles carry a charge, as can be easily attested by a conductivity reading. Regards - Ivan."
