The nature of the solid-liquid interface, the mechanism associated with its movement, and its preferential morphologies, impose important boundary conditions on the technology of crystal growth from the melt. This 1973 book sets out to describe these basic physical changes which underlie all of the important range of melt growth techniques irrespective of the special problems of individual materials and particular experimental techniques. It will be of particular value to senior undergraduates and graduate students of the science of materials. Dr Woodruff begins by considering Gibbs's 1878 work on the basic thermodynamics of an interface, and moves on to examine experimental aspects of the solid-liquid interfacial free energy. The theory of the morphological stability of the interface is also studied, along with the kinetics of crystal growth, and there is a useful chapter on eutectic growth. Throughout, the macroscopic properties of the materials under discussion are linked to relevant theory.
