The CrysMAS code of the Crystal Growth Laboratory, Fraunhofer IISB, is applied to reveal conditions occurring in electrodynamic gradient freeze furnaces during the growth of cadmium zinc telluride crystals. Of particular interest are heat transfer and growth conditions associated with crucibles of different design, one constructed of graphite and the other of pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN). Under identical furnace set-point schedules, the two systems exhibit very different behaviors. Specifically, the temperature field through the cone region of the PBN crucible displays much steeper axial thermal profiles and promotes convex solid-liquid interface shapes (rather than the concave shapes computed for the graphite crucible). Both systems exhibit a concave interface during growth through the cylindrical part of the crucible. However, the axial thermal profile through the graphite-crucible charge is considerably more offset from the set-point profile of the furnace due to significant axial heat flows through the crucible walls. These factors argue in favor of the PBN crucible; however, comparatively larger radial gradients in the PBN system could lead to higher dislocation levels. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.