Insights into phase transition kinetics from colloid science

@article{citeulike:765133, abstract = {Colloids display intriguing transitions between gas, liquid, solid and liquid crystalline phases. Such phase transitions are ubiquitous in nature and have been studied for decades. However, the predictions of phase diagrams are not always realized; systems often become undercooled, supersaturated, or trapped in gel-like states. In many cases the end products strongly depend on the starting position in the phase diagram and discrepancies between predictions and actual observations are due to the intricacies of the dynamics of phase transitions. Colloid science aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these transitions. Important advances have been made, for example, with new imaging techniques that allow direct observation of individual colloidal particles undergoing phase transitions, revealing some of the secrets of the complex pathways involved.}, author = {Anderson, Valerie J. and Lekkerkerker, Henk N. }, citeulike-article-id = {765133}, doi = {10.1038/416811a}, journal = {Nature}, keywords = {classic, colloids, depletion, nature, phase, review}, month = {April}, number = {6883}, pages = {811--815}, posted-at = {2006-07-19 22:10:19}, priority = {3}, title = {Insights into phase transition kinetics from colloid science}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/416811a}, volume = {416}, year = {2002} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:765133 L3 - citeulike-article-id:765133 TI - Insights into phase transition kinetics from colloid science JF - Nature VL - 416 IS - 6883 SP - 811 EP - 815 N2 - Colloids display intriguing transitions between gas, liquid, solid and liquid crystalline phases. Such phase transitions are ubiquitous in nature and have been studied for decades. However, the predictions of phase diagrams are not always realized; systems often become undercooled, supersaturated, or trapped in gel-like states. In many cases the end products strongly depend on the starting position in the phase diagram and discrepancies between predictions and actual observations are due to the intricacies of the dynamics of phase transitions. Colloid science aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these transitions. Important advances have been made, for example, with new imaging techniques that allow direct observation of individual colloidal particles undergoing phase transitions, revealing some of the secrets of the complex pathways involved. KW - classic KW - colloids KW - depletion KW - nature KW - phase KW - review AU - Anderson, Valerie AU - Lekkerkerker, Henk PY - 2002/04/25/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/416811a ER -