Gels are low-packing arrested states of matter which are able to support stress. On cooling, limited valence colloidal particles form open networks stabilized by the progressive increase of the interparticle bond lifetime. These gels, named equilibrium gels, are the focus of this review article. Differently from other types of colloidal gels, equilibrium gels do not require an underlying phase separation to form. Oppositely, they form in a region of densities deprived of thermodynamic instabilities. Limited valence equilibrium gels neither coarsen nor age with time.

中文翻译：

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有限价胶体的平衡凝胶

凝胶是物质的低堆积阻滞状态，能够支撑压力。在冷却时，有限价的胶体颗粒形成开放的网络，该开放的网络通过逐渐增加的颗粒间键合寿命而得以稳定。这些凝胶，称为平衡凝胶，是本文的重点。与其他类型的胶体凝胶不同，平衡凝胶不需要形成基本的相分离。相反，它们在没有热力学不稳定性的密度区域中形成。有限的价态平衡凝胶不会随时间变粗或老化。