OSTWALD RIPENING IN POROUS MATERIALS

A theoretical description of the coarsening process of an ensemble of clusters in a system of non-deformable pores of equal size is given. T he evolution of the cluster size distribution and related quantities l ike average cluster size, critical cluster size and the number of clus ters are analyzed in detail. It is shown that via an intermediate bimo dal distribution, a stable monodisperse distribution of clusters is es tablished. Possible fields of application of the outlined theory are s egregation processes in porous materials like vycor glasses and zeolit es, spatially inhomogeneous materials or highly viscous melts or polym ers.