OBSERVATION OF ACCELERATED NUCLEATION IN DENSE COLLOIDAL FLUIDS OF HARD-SPHERE PARTICLES

Crystallization of a suspension of hard spherical polymer particles is measured by following the evolution of the main Bragg reflection from the close-packed planes. Crystal growth, evident below the melting concentration, is effectively suppressed at higher concentrations due to superlinear rates of crystal addition. We discuss these results in terms of classical nucleation theory. We conclude that superlinear nucleation rates may be a general characteristic of crystallization under constant volume conditions following a deep quench in systems where the crystal phase is of higher density than the fluid.