DIRECT OBSERVATION OF 3-DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION OF INSOLUBLE MONOLAYERS

Nucleation and growth of three-dimensional crystallites in fatty acid monolayers at constant pressure have been studied by direct visualization using a Brewster angle microscope. The number of growing nuclei depends on the film pressure, and the shape depends on the composition of the subsolution. At pH less-than-or-equal-to 3 single crystallites are formed with an area of more than 0.1 mm2 and a thickness of less-than-or-equal-to 6 layers.