The role of amorphous phase separation in crystal nucleation in splat cooled Li2O-SiO2glasses

摘要

Amorphous phase separation and its influence on crystal nucleation in Li2O-SiO2splat cooled glasses was studied. By means of small-angle X-ray scattering and optical reflection microscopy associated with stereological analysis it was shown that the crystal nucleation rate is increased during the early stages of primary and secondary phase separation. These observations emphasize the important role played by the diffusion zone around the amorphous droplets acting as nucleation sites. Some suggestions are advanced to explain why some authors found that the amorphous separation does not influence the crystal nucleation.