抄録
A new method of rapid crystal growth from a thin solution film has been proposed, in which NaCl or K-Alum crystals have been grown from a kitchen detergent liquid film held with a thin steel loop, ～φ20. Due to the rapid evaporation of water from the large surface of the thin solution film, the concentration of salt in the liquid rapidly increases and thus crystals grow to a few mm size in a few tens seconds. Crystal nucleation site and movement of crystals grown in the film can be compared with the experiments in the Space Shuttle done by Don Petitt. It is interesting to note that nucleation in microgravity takes place mostly on the surface of the metal loop due to heterogeneous nucleation and then these crystals move toward the center of the loop with the help of Marangoni convection. Whereas, under normal gravity, crystal nucleation takes place at the middle of the liquid film and then these crystals move radially towards outside.
