Leucite crystallization kinetics with kalsilite as a transition phase

The leucite crystallization kinetics via kalsilite from the hydrothermally-derived precursor was investigated by XRD and non-isothermal DTA. The leucite precursor was prepared by hydrothermal method from silica sol, aluminum nitrate and potassium nitrate. The crystallization of the precursor experienced two steps. Kalsilite crystallized at first, and then it reacted with the redundant SiO2 in the precursor and finally the leucite formed. On the DTA curve, the two exothermic peaks were corresponding to the two times of crystallization. Determined by the Kissinger equation, the activation energy of kalsilite crystallization and leucite crystallization via kalsilite was 103(SD 8) kJ/mol and 125(SD 4) kJ/mol respectively and both the crystallizations were nucleation and three-dimensional growth, which follows the diffusion-controlled mechanism with increasing nucleation rate.