Liquid-phase precipitation nuclei

We have already seen that polymers can adsorb on cotton surfaces during the wash. They can also adsorb on insoluble salt precipitates, which are detrimental to a good wash end result. In this second case, the adsorption may be similar to the first case, but the considered surface is a crystal seed (i.e., a nucleus which is expanding in size as insoluble matter in the liquid phase due to the current thermodynamic conditions. Once again, the polymer is anchored on the surface by its active groups, but the mechanism in operation in this case is the one of crystal distortion and consequent crystal inhibition. As stated in Ref. 2 ... 

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