Conformational arrangements, transitions between

However, this transition is not a structural phase transition in the context of the mi-crocanonical thermodynamic interpretation. The reason is that a spontaneous collective re-arrangement of the entire crystal, under the condition of slightly varying or even constant temperature, is extremely unlikely. Although at this transition point icosahedral and decahedral conformations coexist, a transition between them is not directly possible. The solid stmcture of one of the crystalline types has to be melted first, before it can be crystallized again, in which case it might follow a different transition path toward the other crystalline shape. 

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