zone-meltinghttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zone-melting_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezone melting, n.
First published 1986; not fully revised

zone meltingnoun

  1. 1952–
    1. 1952
      A number of procedures will be indicated which have in common the traversal of a relatively long charge of solid alloy by a small molten zone. Such methods will be denoted by the general term zone-melting.
      W. G. Pfann in Journal Metals vol. IV. 747/1
    2. 1965
      All such techniques as precipitation, partition, distillation, crystallization, chromatography, and zone-melting are based on phase equilibria.
      C. S. G. Phillips & R. J. P. Williams, Inorganic Chemistry vol. I. viii. 305
    3. 1983
      The use of the heater assembly in the specific case of zone melting of mercury cadmium telluride compounds is described.
      Review of Scientific Instruments vol. LIV. 385/2

Originally published as part of the entry for zone, n.

zone, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.