An extended hydrodynamic theory for particle coarsening-I. Theory

Abstract

The asymptotic hydrodynamic approach to the mathematical solution of the kinetics of particle coarsening (Ostwald ripening), first proposed by Lifshitz and Slyozov and Wagner, has been extended and generalized. The coarsening rate equations in dimensionless forms have been separated into asymptotically determinate and indeterminate parts. The generalized evaluation of the asymptotically indeterminate part allows the consideration of coarsening processes that are more complicated than those involving power law type kinetics considered in previous studies. Further, the extended theory allows the determination of particle size distribution function and averaged particle coarsening kinetics even in cases where different physical processes occur at different size regimes within the same distribution of particles. © 1976.