Crystals of a variety of substances including elements, minerals, simple salts, organic molecular crystals, and high polymers forgo long-range translational order by twisting and bending as they grow. These deviations have been observed in crystals ranging in size from nanometers to centimeters. How and why so many materials choose dramatic non-crystallographic distortions is analyzed, with an emphasis on crystal chemistries that give rise to stresses operating either on surfaces of crystallites or within the bulk.

No abstract

No abstract

Phenomenological description of crystallization kinetics in a binary system "aqueous solution-solid solution" is given. This approach involves consideration of the true equilibrium and possible quasi-equilibrium states. It gives description of the crystallization kinetics close to equilibrium and features of the growth process occurring at high driving forces and growth rates. Special attention is paid to interactions between an aqueous solution and a seed crystal placed into this solution. In particular, this includes analysis of pure chemical interactions as well as effect of misfit strain. The theory developed predicts the growth/dissolution rate of a mixed crystal based on the knowledge of phase diagram and growth kinetics of the end members of the series. The key point of the paper is discussion of supersaturation concept in such aqueous solution-solid solution systems.

No abstract