[RASMB] equi. time

[Lustig]

Dear colleagues,
Dear  Patrick E.
you are sure right, that if no change  can  be detected at your  boundary, 
equilibrium is
attained.
To predict  the  time is sometime very hard because it depends on 
various  parameters , but
mainly ruled by the diffusion coefficient and not directly by the 
sedimentation coefficient .
The speed influences the  time only so far  that the radial distance where 
the particles are
situated are  different at the high speed mode , compared to the 
conventional mode where
the particles  are distributed  from meniscus to bottom. So..the radial 
way  or better to say the filling height is responsible  for the time  that 
takes for the diffusion (browning mothion)
from bottom to meniscus.
The conformation  of the particle influences very strong  the time.
Spherical diffuse  much faster  then  elongated or filamentous once what we 
express as
viscosity of the particles.
The solvent viscosity plays again an important time  factor  who is
directly correlated  to the solution temperature (rotor  temp.) Less direct 
influence has the solvent
density.
regards ...ariel