The phenomena of calcium carbonate scale adhesion on various material surfaces

Abstract

The phenomena of scale formation of calcium carbonates on the solid plate surfaces (metals, glasses, plastics) in supersaturated solution was investigated at 25.0°C. Except for particular case, the most stable polymorph calcite was adhered and grown on the plate surface. The unstable polymorph vaterite was formed on some metal surfaces under the conditions that the metal plate was inserted in the solution just after the precipitation of CaCO3. The surface density of the number of calcite crystals on the plastic surfaces were very high compared with that on metal surfaces. Roughness of the plastic surface promotes the increase in the surface density of adhered crystals.