Hamaker constants and combining rules

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hamaker constants for model oil + water systems are computed using Lifshitz theory. Values obtained from combining laws based on the geometric mean assumption are also obtained, and compared with the Lifshitz values. The results differ in some cases by sign and in other cases by 4 orders of magnitude. We conclude that the combining rules should therefore be used with caution; they are uncontrolled approximations.