"Photoemission study of the rare earth intermetallic compounds: RNi2Ge2 (R = Eu, Gd)." 2004, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
The suffix “oid” designate that such clusters possess at a molecular scale, atom arrangements that appear in bulk intermetallic compounds with high coordination numbers of the atoms such as for example in Laves phase and Hume-Rothery phases.
While addition of refractory elements like W, Mo or Re to FK phases helps to enhance the thermal properties in such alloys as steels or nickel-based super alloys, it increases the risk of unwanted precipitation in intermetallic compounds.
Interfaces and layers in complicated environments, such as the intermetallic reaction of ZINCALUME surface coating on industrial steel in the liquid bath.
Fritz Laves (1906-1978), a German mineralogist and crystallographer, best known for his description of the intermetallic Laves phases.
Laves phases are intermetallic phases that have composition AB2 and are named for Fritz Laves who first described them.
The almost-free electron model was eagerly taken up by some researchers in this field, notably Hume-Rothery in an attempt to explain why certain intermetallic alloys with certain compositions would form and others would not.