Limits to Crystallization Pressure

Crystallization pressure drives deformation and damage in monuments, buildings, and the Earth's crust. Even though the phenomenon has been known for 170 years, there is no agreement between theoretical calculations of the maximum attainable pressure and experimentally measured pressures. We have therefore developed a novel experimental technique to image the nanoconfined crystallization process while controlling the pressure and applied it to calcite. The results show that displacement by crystallization pressure is arrested at pressures well below the thermodynamic limit. We use existing molecular dynamics simulations and atomic force microscopy data to construct a robust model of the disjoining pressure in this system and thereby calculate the absolute distance between the surfaces. On the basis of the high-resolution experiments and modeling, we formulate a novel mechanism for the transition between damage and adhesion by crystallization that may find application in Earth and materials sciences and in conservation of cultural heritage.

Automated summary

Crystallization pressure causes deformation and damage in buildings, the Earth's crust, and cultural heritage. However, there is no consensus on the maximum attainable pressure through theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. Researchers have developed a novel experimental technique to study the nanoconfined crystallization process of calcite while controlling the pressure. The results show that the displacement caused by crystallization pressure is much lower than the thermodynamic limit. By using simulations and atomic force microscopy data, a robust model of the disjoining pressure and the absolute distance between surfaces in this system has been constructed.