These characteristics largely determine the properties of the material. Scientists are particularly interested in dendrite size, shape, and how the branches of the dendrites interact with each other. The name 'opal' is derived from the Latin opallus, which means 'precious stone', or the Ancient Greek opallios, which means 'to witness a color shift'. It is based on diffusion limited aggregation. When materials crystallize or solidify under certain conditions, they freeze unstably, resulting in dendritic forms. Dendrite derives from the Ancient Greek dendrits, which means 'tree-like', and is derived from dendron, which means 'tree'. Our Dendrite project (2007) was inspired by the aggregate, branching growth of dendritic crystals and coral. Dendritic solidification is one of the most common forms of solidifying metals and alloys. The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is a materials science solidification experiment that researchers use on Space Shuttle missions to investigate dendritic growth in an environment where the effect of gravity (convection in the liquid) can be excluded. The term "dendrite" comes from the Greek word dendron, which means "tree".Īnimated GIF of dendrite formation - NASA This process occurs again and again until a dendrite is produced. However, overall, the protuberance becomes amplified. In opposition to this is the action of the surface tension tending to flatten the protuberance and setting up a flux of solute atoms from the protuberance out to the sides. This increases the diffusion rate to the tip. Any protuberance that develops is accompanied by a steeper concentration gradients at its tip. In the latter case, there must be a concentration gradient from the supersaturated value in the solution to the concentration in equilibrium with the crystal at the surface. Dendritic crystals can grow into a supercooled pure liquid or form from growth instabilities that occur when the growth rate is limited by the rate of diffusion of solute atoms to the interface. Dendritic crystallization forms a natural fractal pattern.
![dendrite crystal dendrite crystal](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2317/8991/products/dendritic_1b_800x.png)
Dendritic crystal growth is very common and illustrated by snowflake formation and frost patterns on a window.
![dendrite crystal dendrite crystal](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49707219382_9d1145bb5e_o.png)
The armor grew back to its original shape if damaged, provided there was at least 5 lb (2.5 kg) remaining, in a maximum of eight hours. It was not forged in fire and was tailored specifically to each wearer, leaving almost no gaps, but was heavier and more cumbersome than plate mail. Scale in mm.Ī crystal dendrite is a crystal that develops with a typical multi-branching tree-like form. Dendritic crystal armor was heavy armor made from dendritic seed crystals grown deep underground. Manganese dendrites on a limestone bedding plane from Solnhofen, Germany.