Formation of stable phase crystal under the Ostwald's step rule

Abstract

For the purpose of the understanding of crystallization process governed by the Ostwald's step rule, both theoretical and practical study was conducted. The fastest nucleation process against the values of the chemical potentials of the metastable and stable phase was derived from the comparison of values of the free energy barrier. Then a diagram which shows the most possible nucleation process against the condition of the system was obtained. The path on this diagram which the system traces shows the subsequent crystallization process. Then the condition which realizes the Ostwald's step rule was revealed. On the basis of the theoretical study, the experiments for artificial snow was conducted, and the combination of bullets was recreated for the first time in the world.