Solids fracturing by crystallization pressure through metastability-driven pathways

The salt damage provoked by crystallization pressure due to growth inside a porous material requires certain supersaturation of the pore solution. itineraries build it are here revisited at one scale, through experiments allowing direct observations multistep processes as well visualization itself. We present phase transitions within silica micro-capillaries filled with Na-SO4 aqueous solution submitted to: (i) drying isothermal evaporation, (ii) temperature change, and (iii) cavitation metastable capillary-type liquid. directly observed that drive in-pore crystal growth, until container is fractured, for first time our knowledge. thus demonstrate (linked drying, drop, or capillarity) allows happen brutal process. Interestingly, newly-observed capillary mechanism, never described in literature knowledge, can take place after long latency period without any apparent immediate triggering cause. Those findings magnify versatility occur very contrasted situations. They also enforce fact this chemo-mechanical coupling strongly pore-size dependent, third process should predominate cement stones hosting nanoscale porosity prone strong capillarity.