Design of a solution crystal growth crystallizer with a versatile electronic reciprocal motion control for a crystals holder

Abstract

A description of a modified crystallizer for growing large crystals from solutions along with the design of a versatile electronic reciprocating control system to change and reciprocate the motor speed containing the seed holding rod for solution growth crystallizer is presented. In this system, rotation rate and number of revolutions in the clockwise and counter clockwise direction can be adjusted as and when desired. This electronic system alleviates the problem of jerky motion of seed holder during reciprocation as in earlier mechanical systems. Good quality crystals of important nonlinear optical materials such as Methyl-(2,4-dintropheny)-aminopropanoate: 2-Methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA:MAP), L-Arginine Phosphate (LAP) L-Histidine tetrafluoroborate (LHFB), L-Arginine tetrafluoroborate (LAFB) and others have been successfully grown using this system. The complete crystallization apparatus along with electronic circuit can be easily fabricated with readily available components by graduate and undergraduate students. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)