until arrest caused by the crystal gel structure, the kinetics of phase separation remained
largely unaffected by the formation of the third phase. This dynamic arrest appeared to result
from the stiffness of the crystalline strands exceeding the liquid-gas interfacial tension.
Experimentation in microgravity has
revealed the fundamental behavior of
this system. The kinetic pathway was
confirmed, but the small surface
forces that were overwhelmed in
Earth’s gravity played a major role and
led to the formation of a unique
crystal gel structure. The phases
observed reached their final
concentrations, but macroscopic phase
separation was not achieved because
the interfacial energy between the 2
lower-density phases was insufficient to overcome the stiffness of the crystalline strands. This
effect may occur in any 3-phase system whose interfacial and elastic energies result from a
single dominant system energy scale.
PUBLICATION(S)
Sabin J, Bailey AE, Espinosa G, Frisken B. Crystal-arrested phase separation. Physical Review
Letters. November 9, 2012;109(19):195701. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.195701.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
Image of Binary Colloidal Alloy Test - 5 : Compete sample 7
being used to study the competition between phase separation
and crystallization in colloidal samples. This photo shows
distinct phase separation arrested by crystal growth. NASA
image.