Usage of masterplots in kinetic analysis of complex surface/volume crystallization processes in Se-Te glasses

Abstract

Utilization of masterplots in the kinetic analysis of complex crystallization data was analyzed. The analysis was focused on the overlapping surface and volume-located crystal growth processes following the nucleation-growth kinetic concept. Particular attention was paid to the overlaps resulting in a pseudo-single-peak behavior. Comparatory method was introduced, based on the comparison of theoretically simulated and experimentally achieved masterplots; applicability of the method was confirmed for the selected Se-Te glasses. The comparatory analysis has universal usage for nucleation-growth crystallization processes with respect to the majority of kinetic parameters, but it is restricted only to cases where the "kinetically true" surface and volume crystal growths occur. To overcome this restriction, a new non-linear optimization method was introduced, based on the simultaneous optimization of the kinetic data-curve and its corresponding masterplot functions. Reliable physically meaningful description of any kinetic complexity can be achieved for overlaps of independent sub-processes with similar activation energy.