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Introduction to Crystal Growth

2022; International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET); Volume: 10; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.22214/ijraset.2022.46933

2321-9653

M. Sanjiv,

Crystallization and Solubility Studies

The crystal, with its regular atomic construction, is the most commonly encountered state of solid materials.In the earth's surface, crystals were grown by extreme conditions of high temperature, pressure and other environmental factors.To be specific each crystal starts small and grows as more atoms are added.Many grow from water rich in dissolved minerals, but they can also be grown from melted rock and even vapor.Under the influence of different temperatures and pressures, atoms combine in an amazing array of crystal shapes.The process can take as little as a few days to maybe a thousand years.Crystals that are found in Earth's crust are often formed in this manner.These crystals were formed over a million years ago inside the Earth's crust.They occurred when the liquid in the Earth consolidates.Crystals are not new to mankind, as they exist in the ancient period.Salt crystals were used in many cultures for food and other purposes.These salt crystals were grown by evaporating seawater in direct sun.In some cultures, pure salt crystals were used as currency and for trading as it was viewed as a precious resource.Some even waged wars against the salt accusation.The Ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, emerald, and clear quartz in their jewelry.They used some stones for protection and health, and some crystals for cosmetic purposes, like galena and/or malachite as eye shadow.Every part of the world considers Diamond, sapphire, and Ruby as a valuable resources.In India, the Mughals and other kingdoms used Diamond and Sapphire for exquisite ornaments and necklaces.This was the reason India was constantly colonized by the Mughals and by the British.India is the first country to open mines to produce diamonds.Probably the first reference to crystals in Ancient Rome was reported by Pliny the Elder (I Century AD) in his "Natural History", where he describes windows and greenhouses of the richer inhabitants of the Roman Empire being covered by crystals of "Lapis specularis", the Latin name for large transparent crystals of gypsum.This dehydrated form of calcium sulfate was extracted by Romans in Segóbriga (Spain) because of its crystal clarity, size (up to one meter), and perfect flatness.The German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) marveled when a snowflake landed on his coat showing its perfect six-cornered symmetry.In 1611 Kepler wrote" Six-cornered Snowflake" (Latin title" Strena Seu de Nive Sexangula") the first mathematical description of crystals. II.CRYSTALS IN MODERN ERA.We cannot think of a modern technology that would be half as good without the use of crystals.Crystals are the unacknowledged pillars of modern technology.Without crystals, there would be no electronic industry, no photonic industry, and no fiber-optic communications, which depend on materials/crystals in the field of semiconductors, superconductors, polarizers, transducers, radiation detectors, ultrasonic amplifiers, ferrites, magnetic garnets, solid-state lasers, non-linear optics, piezoelectric, electro-optic, acoustic-optic, photosensitive, refractory of different grades, crystalline films for microelectronics and computer industries.The list is almost endless.In the past few decades, there has been a growing interest in crystal growth, particularly given the increasing demand for materials for technological applications.Quartz crystals are one of the common components in devices like cell phones, television receivers, and, of course, watch and clocks.One of the main reasons quartz is used in so many electronic devices is because of its piezoelectric property.Garnet crystals are used to make sandpaper.Corundum crystals are used to make grinding wheels and durable sandpaper.Diamond crystals are used in rock-cutting drill bits and saws.Calcite crystals are ground up and used to make Tums and heated to make cement.Gypsum crystals are heated and powdered to make plaster.Halite (salt) crystals are used on food and in many industrial chemical processes.Magnetite and hematite crystals are iron ore.Ruby crystals were used in the earliest red lasers.Even in this modern civilized world ornaments such as Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other cosmetic jewelry made from Diamond, Sapphire, and Ruby are crazed over and still regarded as a prized possession.But the slight twist is that now these crystals can be manmade and can be grown in Labs.