In the crucibleless floating zone technique (FZ) the molten zone keeps together by capillary forces. Any contamination of the melt by a crucible material is thus avoided. The optical heating is the optimal way to bring a narrow zone of the sample to melting. Both congruently and incongruently melting compounds can be grown by the FZ (from the melt or using flux). A big advantage is a steady-state process setting in soon after the start, enabling to grow homogeneous crystals, even of incongruently crystallizing phases. The maximal lamp power of the furnace is 6 kW, which makes it feasible to reach temperatures up to 2200°C.


A. Prokofiev. Floating zone growth of intermetallic compounds.
In: Crystal growth of intermetallics. De Gruyter. 2018