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5682788 
Journal Article 
A test of the becker-doering theory of nucleation kinetics 
Higuchi, WI; O'Konski, CT 
1960 
Journal of Colloid Science
ISSN: 0095-8522 
15 
1 
14-49 
Intensive consideration was given to the possibility of developing a method for studies of gas-phase nucleation which would be better than the usual cloud-chamber techniques. The method selected and developed involves steady-state production of nuclei in a turbulent jet where a dilute vapor issuing from a nozzle is rapidly quenched by a cooler annular gas stream. The nuclei are grown, and the resulting aerosol particles are electronically counted by means of light-scattering instrumentation. Equations are developed for the rate of production of nuclei in the jet under steady-state conditions. With their application, the pre-exponential and exponential factors of the Becker-Doering equation were separately determined from data on dibutyl phthalate (DBP), triethylene glycol (TEG), and n-octadecane (OCD). Heterogeneous nucleation was observed with DBP, OCD, and sulfur vapor. A critical résumé of the Becker-Doering theory is given. Large deviations from the theory observed with TEG are discussed in relation to the effects of hydrogen bonding on the structure of the critical nucleus.