Forming , solid-phase process

Especially with organics, which create complex crystal lattices held together by relatively weak forces, the rate of addition of molecules to the forming solid phase can exceed the ability of these molecules to orient themselves properly. This can easily result in a partially or totally amorphous structure in the solid. The frequency of this event can be minimized by providing seed particles with the desired final lattice stnrcture. The authors suggest that seeded growth processes should be considered early in development. 

Since very little RDX decomposes in the solid phase, due to its low temperature conditions, only the energy conservation equation that includes both conductive and radiative heat transfer is required to model the solid-phase processes. The equation takes the form... 

Two nucleation processes important to many people (including some surface scientists ) occur in the formation of gallstones in human bile and kidney stones in urine. Cholesterol crystallization in bile causes the formation of gallstones. Cryotransmission microscopy (Chapter VIII) studies of human bile reveal vesicles, micelles, and potential early crystallites indicating that the cholesterol crystallization in bile is not cooperative and the true nucleation time may be much shorter than that found by standard clinical analysis by light microscopy [75]. Kidney stones often form from crystals of calcium oxalates in urine. Inhibitors can prevent nucleation and influence the solid phase and intercrystallite interactions [76, 77]. Citrate, for example, is an important physiological inhibitor to the formation of calcium renal stones. Electrokinetic studies (see Section V-6) have shown the effect of various inhibitors on the surface potential and colloidal stability of micrometer-sized dispersions of calcium oxalate crystals formed in synthetic urine [78, 79]. 

Heterogeneous reactions of industrial significance occur between all combinations of gas, liquid, and solid phases. The solids may be inert or reac tive or catalysts in granular form. Some noncatalytic examples are listed in Table 7-11, and processes with solid catalysts are listed under Catalysis in Sec. 23. Equipment and operating conditions of heterogeneous processes are covered at some length in Sec. 23 only some highlights will be pointed out here. 

Rotating-drum-type and belt-type heat-transfer equipment forms granular products directly from fluid pastes and melts without intermediate preforms. These processes are described in Sec. 5 as examples of indirect heat transfer to and from the solid phase. When solidification results from melt freezing, the operation is known as flaking. If evaporation occurs, solidification is by diying. 

Polymers that form from the liqmd phase may remain dissolved in the remaining monomer or solvent, or they may precipitate. Sometimes beads are formed and remain in suspension sometimes emulsions form. In some processes solid polymers precipitate from a fluidized gas phase. 

PET suitable for bottle manufacture is produced by a modified process. Here the high-viscosity polymer melt is subjected to a rapid quenching in water to produce clear amoiphous pellets. These are further polymerised in the solid phase at temperatures just below the T . This is useful to reduce aldehyde content, since aldehyde-forming degradation reactions occur less in the lower temperature solid phase polymerisations. Aldehydes can impart a taste to beverages and it is important to keep the aldehyde content to below 2.5 p.p.m. 

The basic mechanism of passivation is easy to understand. When the metal atoms of a fresh metal surface are oxidised (under a suitable driving force) two alternative processes occur. They may enter the solution phase as solvated metal ions, passing across the electrical double layer, or they may remain on the surface to form a new solid phase, the passivating film. The former case is active corrosion, with metal ions passing freely into solution via adsorbed intermediates. In many real corrosion cases, the metal ions, despite dissolving, are in fact not very soluble, or are not transported away from the vicinity of the surface very quickly, and may consequently still... 

Life as we know it depends on this existence of water as a liquid. Biochemical processes require free movement of chemicals, which cannot occur in the solid phase. Biochemical stmctures contain many interlocking parts that would not be stable in the gas phase. Thus, the liquid phase is best suited for life. Moreover, water is an excellent solvent, particularly for molecules that can form hydrogen bonds. As we describe in Chapter JA, the molecular building blocks of living matter are rich in groups that form hydrogen bonds. This allows biological molecules to be synthesized, move about, and assemble into complex structures, all in aqueous solution. 

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