Temperature effects for crystal growth: a distribution kinetics approach Original Research Article

The effect of temperature on the growth and dissolution dynamics of nonequilibrium crystal size distributions can be determined by solving the governing population balance equations. The model includes the effect of temperature through the diffusion-influenced growth coefficient, the phase transition energy, and the Gibbs–Thomson effect of particle curvature and interfacial energy. The time evolution of the average size of two polymorphs evolving from a single solute is also modeled. We show that the average sizes of the two polymorphs diverge, one continuing to increase, the other decreasing with time, indicating dynamic ripening. Strategies that allow temperature programming suggest how competing crystal or grain growth processes can be controlled.