Phase Behavior and Percolation of a Primitive Model of Laponite Suspension: Wertheim’s Thermodynamic Perturbation Theory with Anisotropic Reference Particles

The computation of the properties of associative fluids within Wertheim’s multidensity thermodynamic perturbation theory becomes particularly challenging when the reference system is composed of strongly anisotropic, nonspherical particles. We develop a simple and efficient framework that combines thermodynamic perturbation theory with the interaction site model formalism of Chandler and Andersen. The method enables an accurate treatment of associating fluids with anisotropic reference particles and is illustrated through calculations of the phase behavior and percolation properties of the primitive model of Laponite suspensions.