A transition of a pure element, at a defined temperature and pressure, from one crystal structure to another which contains the same atoms but which has different properties. Examples: The transition of
graphite to
diamond, that of body-centred-cubic iron to face-centred-cubic iron, and the transition of orthorhombic sulfur to monoclinic sulfur. Synonymous with
allotriomorphic transition.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 579