Environmental effects on single crystal growth in molten bismuth

SMSU Event Center BC

This project was developed to attempt to grow large bismuth crystals in a molten bismuth bath. After nearly a year of independent research I have been able to develop a procedure that results in large single and clustered crystal formations that when oxidized, 22 5th Annual Student Research Symposium exhibit an amazing rainbow refraction in the oxidization layer. This truly amazing element has many unusual properties and has many potential art applications. I will be attempting to identify the environmental forces such as vibration, ambient temperature, and other variables that control the cooling rate of liquid bismuth, which either hinder or promote single crystal growth during the solidification of molten bismuth. Once identified, these variables will be adjusted to encourage large single crystal growth.