S. Žáček

Recrystallization in Suspensions

Particles of various sizes suspended in their saturated solution constitute a system which cannot be considered stable from the viewpoint of thermodynamics. The large interfacial area of the particles represents a source of free energy which can be decreased by reducing this area. Assuming the particles do not agglomerate, the process which can take place in the system is either ripening or recrystallization, depending on the conditions. It is a common feature of both these processes that the mean particle size will increase and, simultaneously, the number of particles in the system will decrease. Given sufficient time this system may attain a state which is stable as far as the interfacial area is concerned, i.e., a condition where there is a single particle in the system, encompassing the mass of all the particles originally present.