Kinetic analyses of colloidal crystallization in shear flow

Colloidal crystallization kinetics is studied in the shear flow of a suspension of colloidal silica spheres (110 nm in diameter), using a continuously-circulating type of stopped flow cell system. The crystallization rate from a suspension containing a small amount of nuclei and\or single crystals is high compared with that from a suspension containing no nuclei and\or single crystals. Crystal growth takes place at shear rates smaller than 3.4 s–1 and at sphere concentrations higher than a volume fraction of 0.004.