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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
10:56
Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
Published on: May 20, 2014
Metastable and unstable cellular solidification of colloidal suspensions.
Sylvain Deville1, Eric Maire, Guillaume Bernard-Granger
1Laboratoire de Synthèse et Fonctionnalisation des Céramiques, UMR3080 CNRS/Saint-Gobain, 84306 Cavaillon, France. sylvain.deville@saint-gobain.com
Nature Materials
|November 10, 2009
Summary
Colloidal particle solidification shows instability and metastability. Partial Brownian diffusion causes constitutional supercooling, leading to interface instabilities and altered crystal structures.
Area of Science:
- Condensed-matter physics
- Colloidal science
- Materials science
Background:
- Colloidal particles serve as observable model systems for condensed-matter physics phenomena like phase transitions.
- The solidification of colloidal suspensions presents complex, unexplained behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and explain the instability and metastability observed during the cellular solidification of colloidal suspensions.
- To elucidate the mechanisms driving interface instabilities in these systems.
Main Methods:
- Direct in situ observation using high-resolution X-ray radiography and tomography.
- Analysis of particle diffusion and its impact on solidification dynamics.
Main Results:
- Demonstration and rationalization of instability and metastability domains in cellular solidification.
- Identification of partial Brownian diffusion as a cause of constitutional supercooling.
- Observation of localized and global kinetic instabilities affecting solid/liquid interfaces.
Conclusions:
- Partial Brownian diffusion leads to constitutional supercooling, explaining interface instabilities in colloidal solidification.
- Unstable processing conditions result in kinetic instabilities, influencing crystal morphology and particle redistribution.
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