The Metastable Solid—Liquid Phase Boundary

摘要

The solid—liquid interface of a material which is transforming under transport‐controlled conditions is examined from the point of view of stability. Three forms of interfaces, namely the spontaneously unstable, the metastable, and the stable, appear to be possible. The metastable form of solid—liquid interface has not, as yet, been considered, apparently because its presence has not been recognized. As is shown, however, it can be predicted by the perturbation analysis of interface stability and examples of its occurrence in crystal growth are examined.