A RATIONAL APPROACH TO THE MECHANISMS OF INCRUSTATION INHIBITION BY POLYMERIC ADDITIVES

CaCO3 incrustation in washing processes is essentially determined by p recipitation and crystal growth processes. Knowledge of these processe s is an important aid in what has so far been a largely empirical proc edure for the targeted selection or development of additives. To impro ve understanding of-the processes taking place at the molecular level, the possibility of carrying out model experiments to investigate crys tal formation was provided i.e. a method for defined precipitation and for time-resolved observation of the process of CaCO3 precipitation i n the presence of-additives was developed. On the basis of the experim ental work, conclusions may be drawn as to the operating mechanisms of the additives employed (threshold effect, aggregation behavior, etc). In molecular modelling various additives are adsorbed onto the main g rowth surfaces of the calcite and their interaction with these surface s is calculated. In addition, the dynamic aspects of adsorption are an alyzed via molecular dynamic simulations. The methods are explained wi th reference to examples.