The Production of Single Crystals of Metals and Alloys with any Desired Orientation by Solidification at High Temperature

In order to grow single crystals of metals and alloys with fairly high melting point in large rods with any desired orientation, a method is developed from the Bridgman method, using a vacuum Tammann furnace and porcelain crucibles with no bottom, sometimes with a perforated sectorial plate, and inserting a seed into the lowest, part of the crucible. We have succeeded in obtaining single crystals of 3.2% and 4.0% silicon steel, and pure nickel, 3 mm diam and 25 cm in length. The rod axes can be fixed in any desired direction. It is noted that the maximum velocity to lower the crucible and its contents, below which a large crystal can grow at each orientation, shows very large anisotropy.