Particle aggregation
![Scheme of particle aggregation. Particles are dispersed individually in a stable suspension, while they aggregate in an unstable suspension. As aggregation proceed from early to later states, the aggregates grow in size, and may eventually gel.](/Images/godic/202502/01/ParticleAggregationOverviewScheme11241.png")
![Schematic stability plot of a colloidal suspension versus the salt concentration.](/Images/godic/202502/01/ParticleAggregationSchemeStabilityPlot11241.png")
![Structure of larger aggregates formed can be different. In the fast aggregation regime or DLCA regime, the aggregates are more ramified, while in the slow aggregation regime or RLCA regime, the aggregates are more compact.](/Images/godic/202502/01/ParticleAggregationDLCAvsRLCA11241.png")
Particle agglomeration refers to formation of assemblages in a suspension and represents a mechanism leading to destabilization of colloidal systems. During this process, particles dispersed in the liquid phase stick to each other, and spontaneously form irregular particle clusters, flocs, or aggregates. This phenomenon is also referred to as coagulation or flocculation and such a suspension is also called unstable. Particle aggregation can be induced by adding salts or an other chemical referred to as coagulant or flocculant. Some people refer specifically to flocculation when aggregation is induced by addition of polymers or polyelectrolytes, while coagulation is used in a broader sense.