Determination of linear growth rates of crystals (I). Calculation of linear growth rates of individual crystal faces from overall rates

Abstract

AbstractThe presented paper (Part I and II) is devoted to the fundamental principles of the kinetics of crystal growth. The number of studies in this field has been increasing and some authors have introduced different terms and definitions. To avoid possible mistakes and confusions, the individual definitions of the rate of crystal growth are specified and their interrelations are discussed in detail.Basic methods for measuring the kinetics of crystal growth are described. The rate of growth of individual crystal faces or the average rate of crystal growth can be determined using the selected experimental method. The presented study demonstrates that the results obtained by either of the two measuring methods (linear rate of growth of crystal faces and average rate of crystal growth) can be interrelated.The established method of calculating linear growth rates of individual crystal faces is based on an analysis of the time dependence of the volume of a growing crystal. The relationship between the linear growth rates of individual crystal faces and the over‐all crystal growth rate is presented and a method for assessing the linear growth rates of individual crystal faces from over‐all growth rate data, which can be measured readily, is suggested.