Large high quality crystals of various classes of novel rare earth-transition metal intermetallic compounds like RNi2B2C, R1(1-x)R2(x)Ni(2)B(2)C, R2PdSi3 and RPd2Si2 (R, R1, R2 = Y, La, Sc and rare earth elements) were grown by floating zone (FZ) methods. Careful selection and handling of high-purity starting materials and the control of oxygen impurities during the whole preparation process is required. The process parameters crucially depend on the melting temperature and the solidification mode of the compound. After growth heat treatments can improve the real structure of as grown crystals. The high perfection of single crystals enabled the discovery of some novel physical and crystallographic features of these compounds. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.