Dependence of growth rate on initial crystal size

The connection between growth rate dispersion and the size-dependent crystal growth of potassium dihydrogen phosphate is investigated. A possible resolution of the existing confusion in the size-dependent crystal growth investigations is suggested. It is shown that size-independent growth exists if the crystals belonging to one growth rate distribution maximum are considered separately. On the other hand, a linear dependence exists between the arithmetic mean of growth rates belonging to one maximum and the arithmetic mean of corresponding initial crystal sizes. Possible reasons for the existence of extra growth rate distribution maxima and for their widths are suggested. The high scatter of data on the growth rate versus the crystal size dependence is discussed according to crystal growth theories. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.