exsolution
|ex-so-lu-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛksəˈluʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌɛksəˈluːʃən/
coming out of (a) solution
Etymology
'exsolution' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'exsolutio', where 'ex-' meant 'out of' and 'solutio' (from 'solvere') meant 'a loosening' or 'a releasing'.
'exsolutio' was used in Medieval/Scientific Latin to denote release or separation; the term entered modern scientific English as 'exsolution' in the 19th century and became established in mineralogy and materials science.
Initially it meant 'a loosening or releasing out', but over time it evolved into the specialized sense 'separation or precipitation of one phase from another, especially from a solid solution'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process by which a component separates out from a solid solution to form a distinct crystalline phase (common in mineralogy and petrology).
The exsolution of sodium-rich lamellae within the feldspar gave the mineral its characteristic texture.
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Noun 2
the process in chemistry or metallurgy where a dissolved component is released (precipitates) from a solution or solid solution, altering material properties.
Exsolution in the alloy led to precipitation hardening, increasing its strength but reducing ductility.
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Last updated: 2025/11/13 08:47