Intermediate asymptotic regime of coalescence in a homogeneous supersaturated solution and change in kinetic indexes

Abstract

New coalescence regimes, in which the asymptotic behavior of the grain-size distribution function differs significantly from the classical Lifshitz-Slyozov distribution, are found within the approach taking into account the finiteness of the maximum grain size. The cases are considered where the grain-growth kinetics is controlled by either the processes at phase boundaries or the diffusion of monomers. Time dependences are found for the critical and maximum grain radii and the time evolution of the grain-size distribution function in the cases of positive and negative initial supersaturation is described. It is established that a change in the dominant mechanism of grain growth may lead to an intermediate asymptotic coalescence regime, passing in the final stage to the diffusion mode. This change manifests itself in the change in the power exponents in the time dependence of the grain size.