1984 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 93-99
Solid condensation of naphthalene vapors onto a cold surface was observed, and the rate of condensation was analyzed by use of an equation that included rates of nucleation and growth of the nuclei. Photographs of the condensation process taken at definite time intervals were analyzed with a digital image processing system to compute the nucleation rates, rates of increase in crystalline areas and the perimeters of the crystals to provide correlations as functions of the supersaturation. The critical point observed in the plots of condensation rates vs. supersaturation was explained as the changes in the nucleation rate and the shapes of the condensates at that point. From the equations developed and the correlations, the volume growth rates of the crystalline particles were found to be proportional to the supersaturation.