Ostwald ripening Kelvin equation

Ostwald ripening is the result of the difference in solubility S between small and large particles. Typically, smaller particles have a larger solubility than larger particles, and the effect of particle size on solubility can be described by the Kelvin equation [9],... 

Ostwald Ripening. The driving force is the difference in chemical potential of the material in particles differing in surface curvature, as given by the Kelvin equation (Section 10.5.3). 

One of the main problems with nanoemulsions is Ostwald ripening which results from the difference in solubility between small and large droplets as shown above by the Kelvin equation (2.17). 

The Kelvin equation has numerous applications, e.g. in the stability of colloids (Ostwald ripening, see below), supersaturation of vapours, atmospheric chemistry (fog and rain droplets in the atmosphere), condensation in capillaries, foam stability, enhanced oil recovery and in explaining nucleation phenomena (homo- and heterogeneous). The Kelvin (as well as the Gibbs equations, see Equation 4.7a) are also valid for solids/solid-liquid surfaces, and they can be used for estimating the surface tensions of solids. We discuss hereafter several applications of the Kelvin equation. 

Ostwald ripening is equally important for suspensions (dispersions of solid particles in a liquid medium) and it can be explained via the form of the Kelvin equation shown below ... 

Kelvin equation for vapour f P V 2y Explains the Ostwald ripening... 

Ostwald ripening, referred to as isothermal distillation or molecular diffusion in some texts, is the result of the solubility differences of, say, oil contained within drops of differing sizes. According to the Kelvin equation, the solubility of a substance in the form of spherical particles increases with decreasing size ... 

Ostwald ripening results in the enlargement of the greater droplets by incorporating disperse component from the smaller ones. Solubility of the components inside a droplet depends on the curvature radius of the droplet, following the Kelvin equation (Equation 21.2) ... 

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