Toward a Molecular Understanding of Crystal Agglomeration

A predictive model of the effect of crystal agglomeration on particle form and size distribution requires the quantification of various process parameters that depend on the microscopic properties of specific crystal faces and their interaction with the solvent. In this article, we discuss the various stages in the agglomeration process, using the results of recent experiments on breaking the agglomerative bond and atomic level simulations on the forces involved in crystal aggregation, to highlight the questions that need to be resolved for agglomeration processes to be understood.