What makes inorganic scale stick?

While inorganic scaling is traditionally understood from the perspective of the solution, it is fundamentally a surface process. The interactions between foulants, fluids, and surfaces determine whether scale persists on a surface. In this work, we present a review of what makes scale adhere or detach from a surface. We reviewed more than 600 publications and concluded that the stickability of foulants is primarily determined by three variables: surfaces, foulant composition, and fluid dynamics. We propose a qualitative three-regime model to explain the discrepancies in the literature. The insights shown in this work should enable a targeted approach to scale prevention and removal, and the development of more comprehensive prediction models.