Effect of the stabilizing coating and the presence of free polymer on the rate of crystallization of colloidal systems

Abstract
Visual observations and preliminary light scattering experiments on the crystallization process in various colloidal systems are reported. In the first place we studied the influence of the stabilizing coating of the colloidal particles on the rate of crystallization. The various coatings give rise to different ranges of the repulsive interaction. This is found to have a pronounced effect on the rate of crystallization. Furthermore we investigated the effect of free polymer added to the dispersion. It appears that addition of free polymer has a dramatic effect on the crystallization phenomena.