eutectic
- noun
- /juˈtɛktɪk/
- Specialized
- In metallurgy, understanding the eutectic composition is crucial for achieving desired melting points.
- eutectic temperature
Examples
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Another topical anesthetic commonly used is EMLA cream (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics).
Academic text (2015) -
If an alloy with composition Co is rapidly heated above its eutectic temperature TE to a temperature TM, the AB particles will not have sufficient time to dissolve.
Academic text (2000) -
We're going to talk about eutectic reactions now.
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If there's any NH3 eutectic out there, I wouldn't want to step in it.
Fiction book (1990) -
He has been acting as president of Eutectic & Castolin Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Academic text (1998) -
A CLFM temperature below the alloy solidus temperature but above the eutectic temperature should result in solute enrichment.
Academic text (2000) -
The CLFM temperature of 1240 Celsius should also lie between the alloy solidus temperature and the eutectic temperature.
Academic text (2000) -
The eutectic mixture of lead and tin melts at a lower temperature than either metal alone.
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The scientist explained how the eutectic point is essential for optimizing the alloy's properties.
Surface Forms
Morphology
eutectic = eutect + ic
A technical term built from Greek combining elements (rendered here as 'eutect' + '-ic'); the components are not productive English morphemes for average learners, so the meaning is not derivable from familiar English words.
Etymology
Eutectic comes from Greek parts eu- ('good' or 'well') and tēkein ('to melt'), so it literally means 'well-melting'. So a eutectic mixture is one that 'melts well' at a single, lower temperature than its separate parts, which is why the name fits its behavior.