The growth (starting materials, flux, and crucible) are heated to form a complete liquid solution. The growth is cooled to a temperature where the solution is fully saturated. Further cooling causes crystals to precipitate from the solution, lowering the concentration of starting materials in solution, and lowering the temperature where the solution is fully saturated. The process is repeated, decreasing temperature and precipitating more crystals. The process is then stopped at a desired temperature, and the growth is removed from the furnace. Practically, the flux method is done by placing the growth into a programmable furnace:
# Ramp - The furnace is heated from an initial temperature to a maximum temperature, where the growth forms a complete liquid solution.
# Dwell - The furnace is maintained at the maximum temperature to homogenize the solution.
# Cool - The furnace is cooled to a desired temperature over a specified rate or time.
# Removal - The growth is removed from the furnace. The growth can be quenched, centrifuged, or simply removed if already at room temperature.
Additional steps may be added to this basic temperature profile, such as additional dwells or different cooling rates over different points of the cool. Crystallization can occur through spontaneous nucleation, encouragement with a seed, or through mechanical stress.