Nucleation

Dimo Kashchiev (Author)

9780750646826

Hardback, published 22 February 2000

544 pages, Approx. 150 illustrations
23.3 x 15.6 x 3.1 cm, 0.94 kg

This book represents a detailed and systematic account of the basic principles, developments and applications of the theory of nucleation. The formation of new phases begins with the process of nucleation and is, therefore, a widely spread phenomenon in both nature and technology. Condensation and evaporation, crystal growth, electrodeposition, melt crystallization, growth of thin films for microelectronics, volcano eruption and formation of particulate matter in space are only a few of the processes in which nucleation plays a prominent role.
The book has four parts, which are devoted to the thermodynamics of nucleation, the kinetics of nucleation, the effect of various factors on nucleation and the application of the theory to other processes, which involve nucleation. The first two parts describe in detail the two basic approaches in nucleation theory - the thermodynamic and the kinetic ones. They contain derivations of the basic and most important formulae of the theory and discuss their limitations and possibilities for improvement. The third part deals with some of the factors that can affect nucleation and is a natural continuation of the first two chapters. The last part is devoted to the application of the theory to processes of practical importance such as melt crystallization and polymorphic transformation, crystal growth and growth of thin solid films, size distribution of droplets and crystallites in condensation and crystallization. The book is not just an account of the status quo in nucleation theory - throughout the book there are a number of new results as well as extensions and generalisations of existing ones.

Thermodynamics of Nucleation: First-Order Phase Transitions
Driving Force for Nucleation
Work for Cluster Formation
Nucleus Size and Nucleation Work
Nucleation Theorem
Properties of Clusters
Equilibrium Cluster Size Distribution
Density-Functional Approach. Kinetics of Nucleation: Master Equation
Transition Frequencies
Nucleation Rate
Equilibrium
Stationary Nucleation
First Application of the Nucleation Theorem
Nonstationary Nucleation
Second Application of the Nucleation Theorem
Nucleation at Variable Supersaturation. Factors affecting Nucleation: Seed size
Line Energy
Strain Energy
Electric Field
Carrier-Gas Pressure
Solution Pressure
Preexisting Clusters
Active Centres. Applications: Overall Crystallization
Crystal Growth
Third Application of the Nucleation Theorem
Induction Time
Fourth Application of the Nucleation Theorem
Metastabiltiy Limit
Maximum Number of Supernuclei
Size Distribution of Supernuclei
Growth of Thin Films
Lifetime of Amphiphile Bilayers. Appendices
References
Author index
Subject Index.

Subject Areas: Nuclear chemistry, photochemistry & radiation [PNRL], Colloid chemistry [PNRC], Physical chemistry [PNR], Nuclear physics [PHN], Thermodynamics & heat [PHH]