CLASSIFICATION OF CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS

Growth of crystal ranges from a small inexpensive technique to a

complex sophisticated expensive process and crystallization time ranges from
minutes, hours, days and to months. Single crystals may be produced by the
transport of crystal constituents in the solid, liquid or vapour phase. On the basis
of this, crystal growth may be classified into three categories as follows,
Solid Growth - Solid-to-Solid phase transformation
Liquid Growth - Liquid to Solid phase transformation
Vapour Growth - Vapour to Solid phase transformation
There were different methods being adopted around the world for
growing crystals.They are broadly classified into
Melt Growth
Solution Growth
Vapor Growth
The growth of the crystal depends on the nature of the material. If we
consider the material in the solution form, the evaporation of the saturated
solution will give rise to single crystal. Crystals grow even if the starting
material is in the vapour form. i.e., when the actual vapour pressure is greater
than the equilibrium vapour pressure of the crystal at the temperature.
Growing crystals from melt which is cooled below the freezing point at
which solid and liquid are in equilibrium, a crystal forms, and grows, as more
melt cools.
For growing good crystals, the following considerations are to be noted.
i.

Temperature fluctuations should be avoided.

ii.

Growth should proceed at a constant rate.

iii.

Rate of growth should be as low as possible.

iv.

Large temperature gradient should be avoided