Seed Crystals as Templates

If polyphosphates of chain lengths greater than about 350 are to be obtained, a crystallization process is required in which a seed crystal is behaving as a template for chain growth. Templates aid crystallization to proceed without chains of molten polyphosphate sequestering metal ions to terminate their growth or thermal activity rupturing molecules. 

Condensed phosphate melts are composed of many phosphate species that are undergoing constant reorganization, as judged by analyses of glasses formed by quenching these melts. When crystals form in high-temperature systems, segments of phosphates that transfer from melt phases to crystalline phases are limited to four models. 

Crystals may grow one PO3 group at a time under which conditions a molecule-ion of 10,(X)0 phosphate groups would require the formation of 9,999 P-O-P linkages on a surface of a crystal to create a single molecule-ion. 

PO3 groups could be transported to crystal surfaces in clusters of three, as stable triphosphate chains or rings. 

PO3 groups could be transported as short to intermediate length, phosphate chains or rings, as indicated by some physical data. 

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