Halite crystal growth from NaCl solution was conducted within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device to understand the mineral deposition behavior in a confined environment as well as the properties and evolution of the crystallization pressure. Halite crystal growth caused the PDMS to deform when the crystal faces reached the PDMS channel walls, that was evident from the photoelastic effect within the PDMS material. The crystallization pressure during halite growth was quantitatively evaluated, based on the retardance of the PDMS and numerical models of PDMS deformation due to halite crystal growth. The crystallization pressure was inhomogeneously distributed along the interface, with a maximum value of 2.0 MPa at the crystal corner.
