The role of dislocations, integral strain, and supersaturation on the growth rates of sodium nitrate

Integral strain and dislocations have both been cited as determining factor s of crystal growth rates. Sodium nitrate growth rate distributions have sh own dependence upon the supersaturation present during nucleation and durin g growth. This paper provides further evidence that crystal growth rates ar e dependent upon both dislocations and strain. It also demonstrates the mec hanism of crystal growth at low-supersaturation levels and the difference i n the dependence of crystal growth rates with respect to integral strain at varying supersaturations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.