Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
The conventional mechanism developed by LaMer (1) is often considered as the most relevant model for describing the precipitation of uniform particles. In this model, the concentration of a species is slowly increased above its equilibrium value until a critical concentration is reached and nucleation occurs. The resulting particles consume soluble species and the supersaturation level is reduced until there is a balance between particle growth and the generation of reactive species. At this point nucleation stops. Particle growth then continues by molecular addition of soluble species to the growing particles. Uniformity is achieved through a short nucleation time and a particle growth mechanism where the small particles grow more rapidly than the large particles.