Preface Chapter 1. Basics of solidification and casting of metallic alloys (resp. D. Eskin) 1.1. Grain nucleation and growth 1.2. Effects of convection 1.3. External fields and their effects on solidification 1.4. Overview of melt processing and casting technologies Chapter 2. In-situ studies of the dynamics of solidification processes (resp. J. Mi + R. Mathiesen) 2.1 A brief history of in-situ studies of solidification processes 2.2 X-ray imaging and diffraction studies of grain nucleation and phase transformation 2.3 X-ray tomography studies of 3-D microstructure evolution during solidification 2.4 An overview of advanced numerical modelling and simulation techniques. Chapter 3. Magnetohydrodynamics and modelling (resp. K. Pericleous + co-authors (Dubodelov, Bojarevics, Ludwig)) 3.1 Physical principles of magnetohydrodynamics of liquid metals 3.2 Mass and heat transfer in bulk liquid 3.3 Effects of forced convection on melt mixing 3.4 Effects of forced convection on solidification 3.5 Technologies based on MHD Chapter 4. Electromagnetic stirring and low-frequency vibration (resp. Y. Zuo + co-authors (Cui) <4.1 Physical principles of electromagnetic processing of liquid and solidifying metals 4.2 Effects of electromagnetic stirring on heat/mass transfer and solidification structures 4.3 Effects of low-frequency vibration on heat/mass transfer and solidification structures 4.4 Casting technologies based on electromagnetic stirring and low-frequency vibration Chapter 5. High-frequency vibration and ultrasonic processing (resp. D. Eskin + co-authors) 5.1 Physical principles of high-frequency processing of liquid and solidifying metals 5.2 Effects of high-frequency vibration on liquid metals 5.3 Effects of high frequency vibration on solidifying metals 5.4 Casting technologies based on high-frequency vibration and acoustic cavitation Chapter 6. High magnetic fields (resp. Y. Fautrelle + co-authors) 6.1. Physical principles of high magnetic field processing of liquid and solidifying metals 6.2. Effects of high magnetic fields on structure and properties of solidifying metals 6.3 Casting technologies based on high magnetic fields. Chapter 7. Pulsed external fields and modelling (resp. J. Mi + co-authors) 7.1. Pulsed electric current processing of liquid and solidifying metals 7.2. Pulsed magnetic field processing of liquid and solidifying metals 7.3 Modelling of pulsed electric current and pulsed magnetic fields 7.4. Casting technologies with pulsed electric current and magnetic field Chapter 8. Thermal melt processing s (resp. D. Eskin + M. Calvo + co-authors) 8.1. Physical principles of high-temperature melt processing 8.2. Effects of high-temperature melt processing on liquid phase constitution 8.3. Effects of high-temperature processing on nucleation during solidification 8.4. Effects of high-temperature melt processing on cast microstructure and properties