Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
For modelling the reaction of chemically distinct materials in which intermediate alloy phases are formed a simple thermodynamic description is not adequate. Despite thermodynamic prediction of multiple product phases, a single phase generally forms first which is not necessarily that of greatest thermodynamic stability or of simplest structure. Such initial reaction processes may be modelled as metastable perltectoid (solid-solid) or perltectlc (solid-liquid) reactions, characterized by large thermodynamic driving forces with superimposed kinetic and morphological constraints. The interfacial reaction problem is reviewed in light of heterogeneous nucleation theory with emphasis on non-classical aspects.