lyophilic, a. Physical Chem.
(laɪəˈfɪlɪk)
[f. lyophile a. + -ic.]
Of a dispersed colloidal phase: having an affinity for the dispersion medium; not readily precipitated out by small quantities of electrolyte. Also applied to sols containing such a phase, which generally have a lower surface tension and a higher viscosity than the dispersion medium and which give gels on evaporation or cooling.
| 1911 [see lyophobic a.]. 1938 H. L. Hind Brewing I. vi. 111 The complex carbohydrates and proteins belong to the class of lyophilic colloids, which is much the more important class in brewing. 1940 Glasstone Text-bk. Physical Chem. xiv. 1210 Substances which most readily form lyophilic sols are those of high molecular weight; each particle, therefore, consists of a small number of molecules and in some instances possibly of only one large molecule. 1959 [see lyophobic a.]. 1969 G. D. Parfitt Dispersion of Powders in Liquids iii. 81 Solutions of macromolecules and association colloids are of the lyophilic type and form spontaneously when the components are brought into contact. |