The precipitation and out-diffusion of a solute in a solid during cooling

The amount of precipitation of a solute occurring in a solid during cooling is determined theoretically. Results are presented for precipitation at dislocations and for the growth of spherical, disc, and needle precipitates under steady state diffusion limited conditions. Results are also given for the out-diffusion of a solute from a thin plate during cooling. For given annealing and cooling conditions the analyses also give the maximum loss of solute from solution that can occur. The precipitation of In in CdTe and the possible loss of solute following laser annealing in Si are discussed. (author)