The influence of synchrotron radiation-induced strain on the growth and dissolution of brittle and ductile materials

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 179; no. 1; pp. 205 - 212
• Main Authors: Ristic, R.I., Shekunov, B.Yu, Sherwood, J.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dissolution; Exact sciences and technology; Growth; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physical radiation effects, radiation damage; Physics; Radiation damage; Strain; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation; X ray effects; Growth; Dissolution; Radiation damage; Strain; Inorganic compounds; Deformation; Ternary compounds; Physical radiation effects; In situ; Brittle material; Sodium nitrates; Supersaturation; Experimental study; Laser radiation; Inverse crystal growth; Crystal growth from solutions; Sodium chlorates; Ductile material; Synchrotron radiation; X-ray topography; Interferometry
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0248(97)00106-1
• ISSN: 0022-0248

Sodium chlorate (brittle) and sodium nitrate (ductile) crystals were irradiated by synchrotron radiation to produce samples in which one-half of a particular crystal was strained by radiation damage and the other not. The growth and dissolution kinetics of these samples were investigated using in situ laser interferometry and X-ray topography. An appreciable difference was observed in the growth and dissolution kinetics of the irradiated and nonirradiated halves. In the region of very low supersaturation, σ < σ c = 0.32% for sodium chlorate and σ < σ c = 0.065% for sodium nitrate, the irradiated portions of both types of crystals dissolved; simultaneously, the nonirradiated portions grew. Above the critical supersaturation, σ c, both halves grew. This defines a difference in solubility between the irradiated and nonirradiated material. The significant difference between the two critical supersaturations in the two materials confirms our earlier findings that a larger amount of elastic strain per unit volume can be introduced into brittle materials than into ductile ones. This, in turn, has a much stronger effect on both growth and dissolution kinetics. Irradiation is shown to yield pure point defect strain and not to introduce dislocations in the system. A possible mechanism by which strain influences the growth and dissolution kinetics is discussed.