Before revision: We present a mechanistic model for the adherence of two spherical flocs in quiescent flow conditions . Adhesion forces arise via the binding ligands as well as the attractive / repulsive surface potential in an ionic medium via the DLVO theory.
After revision: We present a mechanistic model for the adherence of two spherical flocs in quiescent flow conditions with their surface coated with binding ligands, a model for fluid-immersed adhesion in many biological and artificial settings. Our theory highlights how the physics of the binding kinetics of these ligands (expressed through the collision factor function) as well as the attractive / repulsive surface potential in an ionic medium via the DLVO theory.