Crystallization kinetics determination of Pb15Ge27Se58 chalcogenide glass by using the various heating rates (VHR) method

The kinetics of crystallization of Pb15Ge27Se58 was studied by differential scanning calorimetry non-isothermally. Various experimental methods are currently employed for determining the kinetic parameters of crystallization in a glassy system. These parameters include the activation energy of crystallization E (kJ/mol), the kinetic exponent n and the frequency factor Ko (s−1). Recently, a new method (VHR method) has been derived from Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (JMA) transformation rate equation to calculate – in sequence – the crystallization kinetic parameters of a glassy system. The VHR technique has been used to estimate the crystallization parameters of Pb15Ge27Se58 chalcogenide glass under non-isothermal conditions. The average value of E, n and Ko are found equal to 181.74 ± 0.58 (kJ/mol), 1.085 ± 0.023 and (9.196 ± 0.716) × 1012 (s−1), respectively. The kinetic exponent, n ≈ 1 indicates a surface nucleation mechanism.