Term: morphology coarsening
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.MT07284

Definition:
Process by which phase domains increase in size during the aging of a multiphase material.

Notes:
0) In the coarsening at the late stage of @P04534@, volumes and compositions of phase domains are conserved.
1) Representative mechanisms for coarsening at the late stage of @P04534@ are: (1) material flow in domains driven by @I03088@ (observed in a co-continuous @MT07285-1@), (2) the growth of domain size by @E02227@ from smaller droplets and condensation into larger droplets, and (3) coalescence (fusion) of more than two droplets. The mechanisms are usually called (1) Siggia s mechanism, (2) @O04348@ (or the Lifshitz–Slyozov mechanism), and (3) coalescence.
2) @MT07285-2@ coarsening can be substantially stopped by, for example, vitrification, @CT07136@, and pinning, the slowing down of molecular @D01716@ across domain interfaces.

Related Terms:
1) phase separation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04534).
2) interfacial tension (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03088).
3) morphology (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.MT07285-1).
4) evaporation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02227).
5) ostwald ripening (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04348).
6) morphology (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.MT07285-2).
7) crosslinking (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07136).
8) diffusion (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01716).

Source: PAC, 2004, 76, 1985. 'Definition of terms related to polymer blends, composites, and multiphase polymeric materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2004)' on page 2000 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200476111985)

Citation: 'morphology coarsening' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.MT07284

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