On the variation of the maximum crystal nucleation rate temperature with glass transition temperature

• We derive an exact expression for the temperature of maximum nucleation rate, T* as a function of Tg;
• We show how T* varies with the activation energy, the VFT divergence temperature, and the fragility;
• The relation of T* to Tg allows one to distinguish liquids that nucleate homogeneously from those that nucleate heterogeneously.

The variation of the maximum nucleation rate temperature (T*) with respect to the glass transition temperature (Tg) is analyzed as a function of system parameters such as fragility. Calculated values are compared with experimental results for six stoichiometric oxide systems that are known to exhibit homogeneous nucleation. An examination of T*(Tg) relation supports the experimental observation that liquids having T* > Tg tend to exhibit homogeneous nucleation whereas only heterogeneous nucleation is observed in other systems.