Introduction to Section E2: Bulk Materials

Bulk materials are categorized into three different groups: sintered materials, single crystals and solidified crystals, each of which is utilized for a different purpose. Single crystals, for example, are often used for investigating the intrinsic properties of a given material, such as the anisotropic behavior of high-Tc superconductors (HTS). Whenever a new class of materials is discovered, an attempt is made invariably to grow it in the form of a single crystal to establish both its intrinsic properties and potential for practical applications.