Complete with encyclopedic coverage of sapphire's growth and fabrication and numerous practical applications, this book also covers many unusual physical and chemical properties of sapphire, as well as the main trends in the evolution of growth methods.

By the second half of the twentieth century, a new branch of materials science had come into being crystalline materials research. Its appearance is linked to the emergence of advanced technologies primarily based on single crystals (bulk crystals and films). At the turn of the last century, the impending onset of the ceramic era was forecasted. It was believed that ceramics would play a role comparable to that of the Stone or Bronze Ages in the history of civilization. Naturally, such an assumption was hypothetical, but it showed that ceramic materials had evoked keen interest among researchers. Although sapphire traditionally has been considered a gem, it has developed into a material typical of the ceramic era. Widening the field of sapphire application necessitated essential improvement of its homogeneity and working characteristics and extension of the range of sapphire products, especially those with stipulated properties including a preset structural defect distribution. In the early 1980s, successful attainment of crystals with predetermined char- teristics was attributed to proper choice of the growth method. At present, in view of the fact that the requirements for crystalline products have become more str- gent, such an approach tends to be insufficient. It is clear that one must take into account the physicalchemical processes that take place during the formation of the real crystal structure, i.e., the growth mechanisms and the nature and causes of crystal imperfections.

First technical book on sapphire crystals Addresses a broad engineering and business community: producers, buyers and users alike Summarizes the most important results of the existing scientific and engineering studies carried out by researchers across the world Provides complete information on the useful physical, mechanical, and chemical data including tables, charts, etc., with the properties of sapphire and its possible applications Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Elena R. Dobrovinskaya, PhD, is the Chief Scientist at Rubicon Technology, Illinois. She has over 45 years of experience in Research and Development, and industrial experience in the fields of crystal growth, physical and mechanical properties and defects in single crystals, including the area of sapphire growth and applications (37 years). Dr. Dobrovinskaya has more than 300 scientific works, 19 patents, and 4 books.

Klappentext

Sapphire: Material, Manufacturing, Applications provides complete coverage of sapphire crystal growth and fabrication, including important information on the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. This book considers all known methods for the growth of sapphire and modification of its properties and includes the most exhaustive data on the crystal structure and physical-chemical properties.

Written by leading experts in the field of sapphire crystals, this book presents many various applications, including use in quantum electronics, radio electronics, radio engineering, radiolocation, ultrahigh resolution optics, high temperature optics, aircraft applications, atomic power engineering, and microwave engineering. Sapphire: Material, Manufacturing, Applications addresses the unusual, versatile and attractive physical and chemical properties of sapphire, as well as the trends in growth methods, and will be useful to specialists in crystal growth technologies, engineers and scientists who utilize sapphire in their work.

Inhalt
Application of Sapphire.- Properties of Sapphire.- Radiation Effects in Sapphire.- Crystal Growth Methods.- The Regularities of Structure Defect Formation at the Crystal Growing.- Influence of ChemicalMechanical Treatment on the Quality of Sapphire Article Working Surfaces and on the Evolution of Surfaces under the Action of Forces.- The Effect of Thermal Treatment of Crystals on Their Structure Quality and Mechanical Characteristics.- Methods for Obtaining Complex Monolithic Sapphire Units and Large-Size Crystals.