Study of crystal fragmentation under all-round compression

We studied the variation of the specific (per unit area) surface energy $(\sigma)$ of a crystal from the normalized volume $(v/v_0)$ along the different isotherms based on the analytical method (i.e., without computer modeling). Here, $v_0$ is the volume value at zero values of pressure and Kelvin temperature. It is shown that the function $\sigma(v/v_0)$ under a certain compression $(v/v_0)_{\mathrm{frS}}<1$ passes into the negative value region. This behavior of the $\sigma(v/v_0)$ function at $v/v_0<(v/v_0)_{\mathrm{frS}}$ should stimulate crystal fragmentation, in which the crystal will seek to increase its intercrystalline surface in any way. It is shown that the negative value of the function $\sigma(v/v_0)$ should stimulate both the fragmentation of the crystal structure and the heating of the fragmenting medium and the appearance of surface pressure in this medium due to the appearance of the inner surface. Calculations of the $(v/v_0)_{\mathrm{frS}}$ value for Ne, Li and Au crystals at different temperatures have been carried out. Based on the experimental data, the pressures were indicated, which correspond to the calculated $(v/v_0)_{\mathrm{frS}}$ values. It was shown that these pressures are quite achievable in modern experiments on the static compression of these crystals.