Effect of Dissolution and Refaceting on Growth Rate Dispersion of Sodium Chlorate and Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate Crystals

Abstract

Effects of partial dissolution and refaceting on growth rates of sodium chlorate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals are presented. Under the same external conditions, crystals of sodium chlorate and KDP exhibit growth rate dispersion (GRD), prior to dissolution and after refaceting. These GRDs were described by multiple normal distributions. Dissolution and refaceting reduce the GRD. A number of growth rates pertained to higher order maxima decreases, whereas a number of those pertained to lower order increases, that is, crystals continue to grow at leveled rates. Maxima positions are related to the activity of dominant dislocation groups emerging on the crystal surface. Many nongrowing {100} faces of sodium chlorate and KDP crystals, as well as the nongrowing roofs of KDP crystals, were also noticed before dissolution and after refaceting, which is related to a lattice strain effect.