Character of change in the work of nucleation of β-quartz, diamond, and aluminum hydride (α-AlH3) crystals in homogeneous media

The model for homogeneous nucleation of covalent crystals has been developed, which considers the nuclei ranging from n to n x 10(2) atoms and uses the noncontinuous calculations. The critical size of a nucleus depends stepwisely on the supersaturation. The mass crystallization processes are to yield product of stable condition in the wide ranges of supersaturation. The process and product change drastically on the borders of the ranges. The local minimums in the relationship between the free energy of nucleus and its size are evidently observed. Such stable nuclei are the building units which can condense to form the new phase. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.