The nucleation of solidification in liquid droplets embedded in a solid matrix

Experimental progress in the study of the nucleation of solidification has significantly increased our understanding of heterogeneous nucleation. A wide range of metallic systems has been studied to investigate, firstly, fundamental theories of heterogeneous nucleation; secondly, the roles of chemical and structural factors in determining catalytic efficiency; and thirdly, the effects of ppm levels of impurities on nucleatin behaviour in commercially relevant systems.