Change in crystallization mechanism at the glass transition of colloidal spheres

A study of the glass transition during crystallization of colloidal spheres is reported. The crystallization of micrometer-sized colloidal particles were used to approximate the crystallization of hard spheres by grafting polymers to their surfaces. The results showed that the glass transition coincides with a change in the mechanism of crystallization. Regular rocking of the rock transition enhanced the formation of plate-like crystals, suggesting that shear induces nucleation of crystals.