Crystal growth from boiling solutions

Abstract

This paper reviews the present status of crystal growth from boiling solutions. The understanding of the peculiar characteristic of this technique: high rates of growth, restricted aplicability to substances presenting complexing phenomena in solution, high crystal perfection, etc, makes interesting to analyze the structure of saturated solutions and the nature of crystal growth units.

After a discussion of the role of complex formation and solute association, metastable zone width, crystal solution interface and bubbling in boiling solutions in applying this technique, the experimental set-ups reported so far are narrated.

Finally, the macro and micromorphology, the growth kinetics and the perfection of the obtained crystals are described and discussed.