Unified scaling law for rate factor of crystallization kinetics

Abstract

Features of the crystallization kinetics define directly the rate characteristics: the crystal nucleation rate, the crystal growth rate and the so-called kinetic rate factor known also as the attachment rate (of particles to the surface of a crystalline nucleus). We show that the kinetic rate factor as function of the reduced temperature follows a unified scaled power law. This scenario is confirmed by our simulation results for model atomistic systems (crystallizing volumetric liquids and liquid thin film) and by available experimental data for crystallizing polymers. We find that the exponent of this unified scaling law is associated with a measure of the glass-forming ability of a system. The results of the present study extend the idea of a unified description of the rate characteristics of the crystal nucleation and growth kinetics by means of the scaling relations.