Outstretching population growth theory towards surface contamination

Nanoparticle surface interaction is a common phenomenon, even if a general explanation of nanoparticle deposit growth is still unknown. For several applications, the adhesion of such nanoparticles is detrimental, generating safety and performance issues. The present work shows an interpretation of deposit growth due to nanoparticle deposition, capable of predicting particle adhesion and layer accretion. The nanoparticle deposits grow analogously to a typical autonomous population settlement in a virgin area following statistical rule, which includes the initial growth, the successive stable condition (development), and catastrophic events able to destroy the deposited layer. This statistical population model allows the generalization of the nanoparticle adhesion/deposition behavior, and it could be used for improving the prediction capability of nanoparticle deposition to common engineering applications. [Display omitted] •Deposited nanoparticles acts as an autonomous population.•Growing process and the catastrophic events depends on the impact conditions.•A single nanaoparticle impact turns into collective behavior after deposition.