Iso-epitaxial growth of n-octacosane crystals

Iso-epitaxial(epilayer)growth of n-octacosane crystals is reported. The morphology of the epilayers is in the form of triangular growth islands with or without truncature. Epilayer growth precedes spiral growth mechanism which occurs at medium and low supersaturations, respectively. The occurrence of triangular and truncated rhombic platelets is found to be a manifestation of growth at medium supersaturations.     

Effect of stress field on spiral step patterns on n-octacosane crystals

Modifications in spiral step patterns on n-octosane crystals resulting from stress fields is considered. Stress field seems to impede the propagation of growth fronts across it and leads to the formation of bunched step patterns. Effect of cylindrical stress fields with axes parallel and perpendicular to the direction of step motion is considered in altering the shapes of the bunched steps. Shear modulus of n-octacosane crystals is estimated from the microtopographical features.