An instrument for in situ growth rate characterization of mechanically strained crystals

Abstract

The crystal growth and dissolution characteristics of a certain material can be considerably influenced by the strain present in a growing (dissolving) crystal. Strain can be induced in various ways. One of the most common and always present in industrial processes, where attrition processes are always accompanied by generation of mechanical strain in a newly formed small crystal fragments, is mechanical stressing, in situ, during preparation and handling. To gain deeper insights into some aspects of this phenomenon, a sophisticated equipment is needed for in situ controlled stressing of extremely brittle and fragile crystals. For this purpose, we have developed an apparatus which comprises a specially designed straining cell coupled with a laser Michelson interferometer for growth rate measurements. The straining cell is designed to accommodate crystals that undergo fracture below 200 microstrains. The stress imposed on a crystal is computer controlled with a precision of approximately 5%. Details of the instrument are given together with two examples of straining in situ brittle paracetamol and plastic sodium nitrate crystals. The measured changes in growth rate of a paracetamol crystal, in the quasi linear region 0–70 kPa are estimated to be (−9.4±0.1)×10−11 m/s/kPa.