Ostwald ripening

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-008365",
  "term": "Ostwald ripening",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A process observed in dispersed systems where larger particles grow at the expense of smaller particles due to differences in solubility or surface energy. Smaller particles dissolve and their material redeposits onto larger particles, driven by the tendency to minimize total surface free energy. This phenomenon leads to an increase in the average particle size and a reduction in the number of particles over time.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "dissolution",
    "sol",
    "solubility"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2007, 79, 1801. 'Definitions of terms relating to the structure and processing of sols, gels, networks, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2007)' on page 1824 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779101801)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/ostwald-ripening/"
}