Transition Zone Theory of Crystal Growth and Viscosity

Crystal growth and viscous relaxation are known to be Activated processes, albeit inadequately described by transition Oate theories. By considering a transition zone and accounting for the Kauzmann-type temperature dependence:, of configurational entropy we here develop transition zone theory (TZT). Entropic and enthalpie activation probabilities scale with the cooperativity of the reactant, and the attempt frequency prefactor (k(B)T/h) is scaled by a characteristic phonon wavelength equal to twice the lattice constant for crystal growth, and the speed of sound squired for viscous relaxation. TZT accurately describes the temperature-dependent crystal growth rates and viscosity of diverse materials over the entire temperature ranges T-g to T-m and T-g to T-o, respectively, and affords a detailed: mechanistic understanding of condensed matter reactions similar to that afforded to molecular chemistry by the Eyring equation.