To evaluate feasibility of using streaming potential method to characterize interactions between charged particles, change in zeta potential of Al oxide coated quartz (Δζ) induced by colloidal kaolinite was measured with a self-made streaming potential apparatus in studying extent of the interaction between kaolinite and Al oxide coated quartz. The study also covered effects of Al oxide coating degree of quartz, ionic strength and ionic species of supporting electrolyte on the interaction between Al oxide coated quartz and kaolinite colloids. Results show that it is feasible to use the streaming potential method to characterize interactions between oppositely charged particles different in size. When kaolinite suspension flowed through the porous Al oxide coated quartz package, the interaction between oppositely charged particles led to change of zeta potential, which increased with rising Al oxide coating degree and declining ionic strength of electrolyte. These findings suggest that the increase in interaction between the oppositely charged particles with rising Al oxide coating degree may be attributed to the increase in positive charge on the Al oxide coated quartz and the decrease in ionic strength of the electrolyte as a result of the decrease in diffuse layers on the particles. The interaction between kaolinite and Al oxide coated quartz was stronger in the solution containing monovalent ions than in the solution containing divalent ions, causing greater change in zeta potential of Al oxide coated quartz in the former environment. The interaction energy between kaolinite and Al oxide coated quartz can be calculated with the equation derived from the classic DLVO theory. The obtained data could be used to explain the effect of kaolinite on the electrochemical properties at the interface of kaolinite/Al oxide coated quartz. The electrostatic attraction force between the oppositely charged particles was the key factor influencing the interaction between kaolinite and Al oxide coated quartz. Under the effect of electrostatic attraction force, kaolinite induced change in zeta potential of the Al oxide coated quartz through its effect of physical masking when depositing on Al oxide coated quartz and the overlapping of the diffuse layers of electrical double layers on the oppositely charged particles. The higher electrostatic attraction between kaolinite and Al oxide coated quartz, the stronger the influence of kaolinite on the electrochemical properties of the interface. Therefore, the streaming potential method can be used to characterize the interaction between charged particles. The findings in this study may be of some fundamental significance to the studies on the effects of micro-particles on surface electrochemical properties of the bulk soil or other large-scale porous materials during the migration process of colloidal particles and on strategies to reduce soil erosion in tropical and subtropical regions.