  Crystallization pressure drives deformation and damage in monuments,
buildings and the Earth's crust. Even though the phenomenon has been known for
170 years there is no agreement between theoretical calculations of the maximum
attainable pressure and that found experimentally. We have therefore developed
a novel experimental technique to image the nano-confined crystallization
process while controlling the pressure and applied it to calcite. The results
show that displacement by crystallization pressure is arrested at pressures
well below the thermodynamic limit. We use existing molecular dynamics
simulations and atomic force microscopy data to construct a robust model of the
disjoining pressure in this system and thereby calculate the absolute distance
between the surfaces. Based on the high resolution experiments and modelling we
formulate a novel mechanism for the transition between damage and adhesion by
crystallization that may find application in Earth and materials sciences and
in conservation of cultural heritage.
