Migration of a Liquid Zone Through a Solid. Part III

Abstract

In the present paper, the author extends his theoretical analysis of this topic to include nonconservative systems where atoms are exchanged between the liquid zone and the environment. It applies to both evaporation and condensation of either the solute or the solvent species. When the vapor exchange is such as to increase or decrease the liquidus temperature of the zone, the zone migration velocity increases or decreases, respectively, in a linear manner with zone size. For certain conditions it is possible to produce a zone of constitutionally supercooled liquid ahead of the freezing interface. The migration rates of gallium alloy zones through GaAs are quantitatively consistent with this treatment.