"The papers in this volume provide a permanent record of submissions to the Surface Oxide Films symposium that formed a part of the 204th Electrochemical Society meeting, held in Orlando, Florida (12-17 October 2003)."--p. iii.

This book offers a blend of academic and industrial papers on topics including advances in controls and process simulation, ingot defect formation and characterization studies, and process parameter-material properties characterization. The collection includes papers on the following topics: Primary and Secondary Melt Processing including VIM, VAR, ESR, EBCHR, Plasma Melting Physical Property Measurements of Liquid Metals Casting and Solidification of Liquid Metals Modeling of Metallurgical Processes including Heat/Mass Flow Modeling of Liquid Metal and Solidification Ceramic, Slag and Refractory Reactions with Liquid Metals Refining, Evaporation and Gas/Metal Reactions Fundamentals of Reactions Involving Liquid Metals in Productions Processes

The purpose of this Conference was to discuss the results of recent developments and the future prospect in science and technology of the field. The field has been growing and flourishing, while indicating many problems to be uncovered and solved. The conference was structured to encourage interaction and to stimulate the exchange of ideas to accomplish the above purpose.Key issues and materials related to the Conference were included as follows: • Molecular Assemblies in Solutions; • Fine Particles and Colloidal Dispersions; • Supramolecular Organized Films; • Nanostructural Solid Surfaces; • Industrial Applications and Products.The Conference comprised 2 plenary lectures, 42 invited lectures, 150 oral presentations and 266 poster presentations.