Springer Series in Materials Processing – serie

Crystals are the unacknowledged pillars of the world of modern technology. Today's technological developments depend critically on the availability of suitable single crystals, whether for lasers, semiconductors, magnetic devices, optical devices, superconductors or telecommunication. In spite of great technological advances in recent years, we are still at an early stage with respect to the growth of several important crystals such as diamond, silicon carbide, PZT and gallium nitride. This book covers all important aspects of crystal growth and growth techniques, together with relevant case studies. Particular emphasis is placed on new approaches designed to overcome the present limitations on crystal growth. The book will be essential reading for all scientists working on crystal growth.

New processing methods govern the progress in physical-chemical technology. The potential of supercritical fluid methods is presented in a comprehensive way in this book. On the basis of a careful discussion of physical and chemical principles, the application of this method in process technology is demonstrated.

Substantial enhancement of important properties of materials is manifested when impurity concentrations are reduced to extremely low levels. Current technologies are not fully adequate and the frontiers of our present knowledge of theory and practice need exploration. New concepts and methodologies are evolving and novel purification processes are beinb developed for producing ultra-high-purity metals with purpose-designed atomic patterns for sophisticated functional applications. This book gives a critical, up-to-date evaluation starting with an extended introductory treatise on the fundamentals, followed by a detailed description of the new methods of purification of transition metals and rare earth metals, including their characterization. The subject is approached both from the basic science and applied engineering points of view.

In spite of great technological advances in recent years, we are still at an early stage with respect to the growth of several important crystals such as diamond, silicon carbide, PZT and gallium nitride. This book covers all important aspects of crystal growth and growth techniques, together with relevant case studies.

New processing methods govern the progress in physical-chemical technology. The potential of supercritical fluid methods is presented in a comprehensive way in this book. On the basis of a careful discussion of physical and chemical principles, the application of this method in process technology is demonstrated.

Substantial enhancement of important properties of materials is manifested when impurity concentrations are reduced to extremely low levels. Current technologies are not fully adequate and the frontiers of our present knowledge of theory and practice need exploration. New concepts and methodologies are evolving and novel purification processes are beinb developed for producing ultra-high-purity metals with purpose-designed atomic patterns for sophisticated functional applications. This book gives a critical, up-to-date evaluation starting with an extended introductory treatise on the fundamentals, followed by a detailed description of the new methods of purification of transition metals and rare earth metals, including their characterization. The subject is approached both from the basic science and applied engineering points of view.

One of the recently emerging techniques of fibrous materials production, melt blowing, consists of forming fibers from substances heated above their melting (crystalline) or glass transition (glass-like) point with further blowing by gas flow. The sprayed fibrous mass is then cooled to solidification either in a gas flow or upon deposition on the forming substrate. Realized from polymers and then ceramics, the melt blowing technique has enriched materials science, engineering, and all commodity products by novel types of fibrous materials and products made from them with a unique combination of properties. The reasons for the popularity of melt blowing are the following. The shape stability and strength of melt-blown materials and products are controllable technological parameters that depend on the diameter and the intensity of the adhesive interaction between fibers and the number of contacts between them. The greater area of fiber surface in contrast to negligible clearances in between is the source of the uniqueness of melt-blown materials as systems whose properties are governed to a great degree by surface phenomena. Dielectric materials manufactured by melt blowing are subjected to the rigorous effects of heat, deformation, and friction during processing which is accompanied by natural electrical polarization of fibers. The fibers are transferred into an electret state (an electret is a dielectric that preserves its electrical polarization for a long time), which makes melt-blown materials the source of a permanent electrical field.