Particle coalescence, growth distribution

We discuss here two major processes, the absorption growth process where particle nuclei grow up with absorption of metal atoms, and the coalescence growth process where particles grow up by collision of particle nuclei or clusters (2). The combination of these processes leads to two well-known distributions, the normal-like distribution and the lognormal distribution, depending on the growth condition. These distributions are frequently found for the size distribution of small particles. The... 

Feeney, et al. [94] found that the narrowest particle size distribution was obtained with Aerosol MA despite the duration of Interval I being longest with this emulsifier. They concluded that polydispersity decreased with increasing entry rate of radicals into latex particles which minimizes variation in growth rate between particles. However, at the concentrations used. Aerosol MA was close to its cmc and produced fewer particles, whereas the other emulsifiers were well above their erne s so that particle coalescence evidently proceeded further with Aerosol MA. 

Figure 5.12 represents the evolution in time of the surface-averaged droplet diameter for different amounts of solid particles. The kinetic curves confirm the qualitative evolution previously described. The droplet growth is initially rapid but the coalescence rate progressively decreases until the average diameter reaches an asymptotic value. Figure 5.13 shows the change in the droplet size distribution... 

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