Growth kinetics of lithium formate crystals in normal and heavy water solutions

Abstract

Data on growth rates of hydrated lithium formate (LFM) and deuterated lithium formate (DLFM) crystal faces as a function of supersaturation at 307.65 K and observations of growth hillocks and liquid inclusions are presented and discussed. Following Bennema's modification of the BCF surface diffusion model as applied to crystal growth from solution, the values of growth parameters have been calculated and compared with the values reported for the growth of other substances. It was found that large liquid inclusions begin to appear at supersaturations σ > 0.0185 for LFM and σ > 0.0192 for DLFM, but tiny inclusions appear even at σ=0.0108.