Abstract
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was used to study the kinetics of amorphous to crystalline transformation in Pb4.3Se95.7 chalcogenide glass. Non-isothermal measurements were performed at different heating rates (5-60K/min). The activation energy of crystallization was determined by analyzing the data using Matusita et al. method. A strong heating rate dependence of the activation energy was observed. The isoconversional methods of Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Vyazovkin confirm that the activation energy of crystallization is not constant but varies with the degree of crystallization and hence with temperature. This variation indicates that the transformation from amorphous to crystalline phase in Pb4.3Se95.7 is a complex process involving different mechanisms of nucleation and growth. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.