= DLVO theory
{c}
<DLVO theory> combines screened electrostatic repulsion from overlapping <electric double layers> with attractive <Van der Waals forces> to model colloid stability. A repulsive barrier can inhibit aggregation even when a deep short-distance attractive minimum exists. Increasing electrolyte <concentration> reduces the screening length and can lower that barrier. Molecular surface forces and polymer-mediated interactions require additions to this description.
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