Enantiomorphism in sodium chlorate crystals

Creation of enantiomorphous forms in sodium chlorate and enantiomorphous nature of surface micromorphology were studied by optical microscopy. It was shown that when the small number of crystals nucleates spontaneously in unstirred, unseeded solutions then exclusively left- (L) or right-handed (D) crystals can be formed. At the large number of nucleated crystals the probability of the creation of L and D form is nearly the same. L and D crystals can be distinguished by the shape of growth or dissolution centers.     

Some observations of growth hillocks and growth layers on potassium hydrogen tartrate crystals

Some observations of growth hillocks and growth layers on the as-grown surfaces of potassium hydrogen tartrate (KHT) crystals obtained at 30 °C from aqueuos solutions of different supersaturations are reported and discussed. It is found that macrospirals, isolated growth hillocks, and growth layers are typical features observed on these crystals. Bunching of rectilinear growth layers originating from growth hillocks produced parallel macrosteps on the {010} faces. In certain cases, interaction of thick rounded layers of unequal height, emitted from neighbouring strong sources, gave rise to residual steps (pseudo-interlaced steps). Isolated growth hillocks produced by microbes were also observed.     

Data on nucleation and growth of sodium trimolybdate crystals

The influence of acidification on crystallization and kinetics of growth of sodium trimolybdate has been interpreted. Furthermore the process of nucleation at the surface layer of the solution has been described.     

On the modeling of crystal structures and the growth of crystals

It is demonstrated that the universal laws of system organization govern the growth of crystals and the construction of models of crystal structures. It is established that there is an interrelation between the growth of crystals of chemical compounds and the modeling of their crystal structures.     

Dual nature of the orientational effect of ultrasound on liquid crystals

The new model of thresholdless distortion of the orientational structure in a homeotropic layer of nematic liquid crystal with free ends in ultrasonic field has been experimentally substantiated for the first time. The model is constructed within the concepts of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and statistical hydrodynamics of liquid crystals for the frequency range in which the elastic and viscous wavelengths are, respectively, longer and shorter than the layer thickness. The main regularities of the phenomenon, which relate the conditional effect threshold to the ultrasonic frequency and layer thickness, have been established based on the experimental data for (20–150)-μm-thick layers in the frequency range of 0.1–9 MHz. These data are compared with the results of numerical calculations, performed taking into account two mechanisms of liquid crystal structure distortion (convective and nonlinear relaxation ones).     

On the nature of instability of the hardening and structural states in crystals with forest dislocations

The branch of studies of work-hardening and the related structural states as yet has not been developed sufficiently. This paper touches upon the problem of work-hardened state formation by a dislocation forest and its stability against a range of infiuences.     

On the theory of normal growth of crystals in binary systems

Crystallization processes of binary systems are considered, in which solid particles consisting of components A and B grow from the melt in monolayers of a two-phase boundary zone by a mechanism of spontaneous thermal equilibrium type concentration fluctuations. The calculation is based on probability distribution functions. The region of small supercoolings of the binary system melt-crystal proves most valid for this investigation. The change of the mean crystallization rate of the two-phase boundary zone with the supercooling of the melt shows a linear behaviour. The dependence of the kinetic coefficient on the degree of the atomic roughness of the phase boundary with different numbers of monolayers in the phase boundary, the total number of particles in each monolayer, and a certain roughness are connected with the energy of positional disorder in binary systems.     

Influence of phenol on the habit of sodium chloride crystals

The influence of phenol on the habit of sodium chloride crystals was studied quantitatively. At small concentrations the presence of phenol has no influence whatsoever on the growth rate of the (100) face. At greater concentrations this growth rate increases. Spiral growth was observed on the (100) face by surface dissolution. Phenol slows down the growth rate of the (111) face, the energy barrier being about 600 cal/mole. Roughening of this face is observed when crystallization takes place from pure solutions and in the presence of small amounts of phenol. At a phenol concentration of 0.065 mole/l the growth rates of the (100) and (111) faces become equal.     

On growth and morphological studies of TGS single crystals

The effect of various growth parameters; seed morphology, growth-temperature and pH of the mother solution on the growth of TGS single crystals is studied. The effect of these variables on the crystal morphology and perfection is reported. It is shown that; (i) The crystal quality is much dependent on the seed and the growth temperature and (ii) the pH-control is a simple and an effective method for obtaining TGS crystals of required morphology.     

Dielectric studies on sodium fluoroantimonate single crystals

Dielectric properties of grown single crystals of Na₂SbF₅ and Na₃Sb₂F₉ have been carried out. The values of the dielectric constant of Na₂SbF₅ and Na₃Sb₂F₉ are about 24.1 and 14.3, respectively, at temperatures from 30 °C to 250 °C and 225 °C for 100 kHz.     

On the mechanism of trace-element uptake during the hydrothermal growth of sulfide mineral crystals

The stable species of cadmium and mercury are formed in iron and lead sulfides at elevated temperatures and pressures under hydrothermal conditions. Their formation proceeds through different mechanisms. The most general mechanism involves the uptake of trace elements in the form of structural species due to isomorphous exchange. The results obtained for cadmium in pyrrhotite indicate that structural defects substantially affect the incorporation of impurities into the crystal structure. It is found that trace elements are accumulated on the surface in the absence of defects and are incorporated into the crystal bulk in the form of structural impurities in the presence of defects. Moreover, at elevated temperatures and pressures, trace elements can form their own (surface nonautonomous) phases. These phases are formed not only at trace-element concentrations close to saturation (Cd in Fe_1.0S) but also under conditions far from saturation as a result of the interaction of trace elements with the oxidized surface of the mineral (the cadmium uptake by galena with the formation of either a sulfate surface phase or a sulfate-chloride surface phase). An important mechanism of trace-element uptake by sulfides during the hydrothermal growth of crystals is associated with external and internal adsorption of impurities by defects. This adsorption manifests itself both in an increase in the content of sorbed mercury in galena at a high sulfur activity due to the interaction of mercury with lead vacancies and in the formation of dislocation cadmium species, which results in an increase in the coefficient of cadmium distribution in the crystal-solution system.     

Study of the oriented overgrowth of sodium nitrate crystals

Formation of overgrowths of NaNO₃ on crystalline and noncrystalline substrates has been investigated employing the solvent evaporation method. Calcite, Gypsum, Sodium chloride, Mica, Glass and Polystyrene films formed on glass have been employed as substrate materials. The solvents employed are water, liquid ammonia, methyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol. Random orientation of the overgrowths is observed on the substrates except in the case of calcite and mica. It is found that the morphology of the overgrowths manifests in the form of rhombic-, triangular- and hexagonal platelets. The occurrence of (001), (110) and (111) twins is observed. The effect of supersaturation and nature of the substrate on the formation of overgrowths is considered.     

Proximity between reacting partners for diffusion-controlled growth of barium tungstate crystals from sodium tungstate melts

The separation distance (d₁₂) between a diffusing particle and its host necessary for a successful diffusion was estimated for diffusion-controlled crystal growth of BaWO₄ from Na₂WO₄ melts. Such distances slightly increased with increased cooling rates (R_T) and crystallization temperatures (T₀). The energy (E), enthalpy (ΔH_a), entropy (ΔS_a) and free-energy (ΔG_a) of activation, and the probability factor (P) were also estimated. These parameters did not change with the changes in R_T and T₀.     

On the growth mechanism of polycrystalline snow crystals with a specific grain boundary

Observed frequently in a natural snowfall at temperatures lower than -20°C, the crossed-plate crystal is an assemblage of two to four thin basal plates, each plate extending along a CSL grain boundary with a relation of 70.3°/[11$\text{2}$0]. A possible growth mechanism is proposed to account for the characteristics growth in the direction of the axis [11$\text{2}$0]. If two or more grain boundary dislocation (GBD) structures are contained at a CSL grain boundary, growth layers will overflow alternately on the (10$\text{1}$0) planes of each component crystal at the intersection of these planes. Thus, the distinctive structure of the CSL grain boundary, like the feature of a screw dislocation step, will induce the preferential growth in this direction.     

Solvent effects on the growth kinetics of subtilisin crystals

The effects of salts on subtilisin crystallization were investigated. Three salts—NaCl, NaNO₃ and NaSCN—were selected to study the effects of different anions on growth kinetics of three subtilisin mutants—Properase^®, Purafect^® and Purafect^®OX. The effectiveness of salts in decreasing the solubility of Properase^® and Purafect^® subtilisin followed the reverse order of the Hofmeister series: SCN⁻>NO₃⁻>Cl⁻. The average length and diameter of crystals were measured during crystallization. The nature of salt changed the length/diameter ratio of crystals, indicating the changes in the relative growth rate of different crystal faces. The required supersaturation, (c−s)/s, for a given growth rate increased in the order of NaCl, NaNO₃ and NaSCN. The observed trend in required supersaturation indicates a kinetic effect and was counter to the trend for the solubility data. A rationale is provided based on the influence of ion binding and kinetics on the energetics of crystal growth and growth rate is correlated to the molar Gibbs free energy of hydration of the anion.     

Effect of ultrasound on the growth of semiconductor single crystals

Crystallography Reports - The influence of ultrasound on striations in InSb, GaAs, and Bi-Sb single crystals grown by the modified Czochralski method was studied. Ultrasonic waves with a frequency...     

2D modeling of the regeneration surface growth on crystals

A physical model is proposed to describe the growth of regeneration surfaces (flat crystal surfaces that are not parallel to any possible faces). According to this model, the change in the growth rate of a regeneration surface during its evolution and the decrease in the number of subindividuals forming the growth front can be explained by the implementation of two types of geometric selection: within each subindividual (the absorption of rapidly growing faces by slowly growing ones) and between subindividuals (when subindividuals absorb each other). A numerical modeling of the growth of the regeneration surface (30.30.19) of potassium alum crystals showed quantitative agreement between the model proposed and the experimental data.