Abstract Real-time in situ observation of evolution of shear modulus during the crystallization and ripening of colloidal particles suspensions was conducted by using reflection spectrum and torsional resonance spectroscopy simultaneously. According to the structural information obtained by reflection spectrum, after the completion of nucleation, the crystallization can be basically divided into four stages: crystallization-dominated stage, crystallization and ripening coexistence stage, ripening-dominated stage and crystallization completion stage. Colloidal particles volume fraction significantly affects the duration of each stage. Our experiments showed that the ripening process is the main cause for the improvement of the mechanical strength (the increase of shear modulus). This observation is supposed to be associated with the diminishing of crystal interface as the result of the increase in crystallites size and the decrease in crystallites number during the ripening process. In addition, a theoretical analysis is given briefly on the softening effect induced by nonaffinity of disordered particles in interface region.

中文翻译：

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胶体结晶奥斯特瓦尔德熟化过程中剪切模量演变的实时原位观察

摘要 利用反射光谱和扭转共振光谱，实时原位观察胶体颗粒悬浮液结晶和成熟过程中剪切模量的演变。根据反射光谱得到的结构信息，成核完成后，结晶基本上可以分为四个阶段：结晶主导阶段、结晶与成熟共存阶段、成熟主导阶段和结晶完成阶段。胶体颗粒体积分数显着影响每个阶段的持续时间。我们的实验表明，熟化过程是机械强度提高（剪切模量增加）的主要原因。这一观察结果被认为与结晶界面的缩小有关，这是在成熟过程中晶粒尺寸增加和晶粒数量减少的结果。此外，对界面区域无序粒子的非亲和性引起的软化效应进行了简要的理论分析。