Hydrothermal Technology—Principles and Applications

This chapter provides an introduction to hydrothermal crystal growth and materials processing. It also discusses importance of solvents in hydrothermal reactions. Owing to the specific physical properties, particularly the high salvation power, high compressibility, and mass transport of solvents, one can expect the occurrence of different types of reaction like: synthesis of new phases or stabilization of new complexes; crystals growth of several inorganic compounds; preparation of finely divided materials and microcrystallites with well defined size and morphology for specific application; and leaching of ores in metal extraction. Further, the behavior of volatiles and other incompatible components under hydrothermal conditions and the importance of hydrothermal in deep sea have been discussed as well.