Hydroxyapatite precipitation: A case of nucleation-aggregation-agglomeration-growth mechanism

The interpretation of the precipitation data of hydroxyapatite in MSMPR systems presents several problems due to the lack of consistency of the classical nucleation-growth-agglomeration mechanism in the analysis of the Crystal Size Distribution. In the proposed model, the mechanism of formation of particles stm ts,with a nucleation episode, followed by the aggregation of supercritical nuclei ruled by surface energy excess, which counterbalance the repulsive forces between particles. The aggregates agglomerate, forming solid bridges, and the agglomerates continue to grow as distinct particles due to repulsive forces. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.