Directional solidification

Large cavities do not cool as quickly as surrounding areas because there is less heat flow; this is called a riser effect.

Directional solidification (in zone melting) is frequently employed as a purification step in the production of multicrystalline silicon for solar cells.

[citation needed] Directional solidification is the preferred technique for casting high temperature nickel-based superalloys that are used in turbine engines of aircraft.

[7] This ratio must be maintained within a range to ensure single crystal formation with the correct microstructure of the coarse dendrite with side branches.

[10] This is catastrophic to mechanical properties of Ni-based superalloys such as CMSX4, and can be minimized by keeping the tolerance of <001> from the local surface normal.

[11] Additionally, the range of axial orientations in the directional solidification starting block should be minimized in order to successfully grow a single crystal.