Evolution of the morphological structure of a two-dimensional cluster obtained with a linear microparticle trajectory in the diffusion-limited aggregation regime

Two-dimensional diffusion-limited aggregation of spherical microparticles was achieved experimentally as a result of their rectilinear motion ("ballistic aggregation") at a "water-air" interface. A percolation cluster was obtained and the evolution of its morphological parameters was studied under compression. A change in the orientation of the cluster pores and a nonlinear coalescence and breakup process were observed. A fabrication technology is proposed for monolayer films similar to the Langmuir method. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7850(99)01312-9].