crystals involuntarily forced to stop his gaze on them.The strict form and the play of light on the faces will not leave anyone indifferent.Since ancient times, gemstones were a symbol of wealth and prosperity.At that time, they mainly used in jewelry.However, now jewelry is only a small part of the gems takes away a large industry.And the industry did not require natural and artificial samples as crystal growth has long been a separate specialization.
Such a state of affairs where the gems were rare, did not suit the inquiring minds, and made repeated attempts to grow these stones themselves.However, it was not a mass phenomenon, as attempts of alchemists to transform base metal into gold, but they were.The main development of the idea that the growth of crystals can be produced artificially, received after the discovery of the structure of matter and the emergence of significant needs of the industry in the crystals.The main consumers of steel semiconductor industry, oil and gas, and many others.
To date, known and used the following methods of crystal growth:
- from the melt;
- from the solution;
- vapor;
- solid phase.
Paint process by which crystal growth is carried out for the needs of industry, not interested.To be more precise, interesting from the standpoint of self-repetition and growing gems.Suffice it to note that when growing conditions are used in industrial high temperature, high pressure, rare materials.The technology of works is complex and requires compliance with high purity and production standards.
However, a curious process could not go unnoticed by amateurs, causing appeared, so to say, a hobby - obtaining crystals at home.And it does not require any special equipment and accessories, you can do simple improvised means available in every kitchen.Of course, if you will produce growing crystals of copper sulphate, then comply with safety requirements will have mandatory.
However, if you want to obtain crystals of salt or sugar, the working conditions here are much softer.It does not require high temperatures and pressures are used completely different laws.At home, you usually use a few simple ways.The cooling of a saturated solution - one.At elevated temperatures, water soluble, such as salt.Next, the water begins to cool down, as this water-soluble substances falling and begin to appear the germs of the future crystals.
When cooling is slow, and the solution no artificial nucleation, nucleation of new crystals formed bit, and after a while they turn into larger structures of regular shape.If the cooling is fast, there is a lot of embryos, as a consequence - small crystals.
crystal growth can be carried out also by other means - the removal of water from the saturated solution.In this approach, the slower the liquid is removed from the solution, the better the result.The procedure is fairly simple - a saturated solution should be ready to cover a sheet of paper (not to be exposed to dust) and leave to evaporate.To increase the processing time can be periodically adding a fresh solution.
In general, it can be concluded that the crystal growth is quite capable to hold and at home.Of course, this will not sapphires and rubies and crystals of salt and copper sulphate, but the process itself this does not become less interesting.
