The discipline of surface and colloid chemistIy has experienced a considerable resurgence since the early sixties. This perhaps reflects a growing realisation of the wide applicability of modern colloid and surface theory to many important industrial, medical and environmental problems. This increased activity has resulted in a very complex and at times even confusing area of science being consolidated within a firm theoretical framework. The clearer insights gained into the underlying principles have no doubt acted in an autocatalytic manner to stimulate further interest in an expanding...