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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Crystallization in heat-treated fluorochlorozirconate glasses.
Ja Johnson1, Jkr Weber, Ai Kolesnikov
1University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA.
Summary
Adding reducing agents during re-melting, not initial synthesis, suppressed barium chloride nanoparticle precipitation in fluorochlorozirconate glasses. Oxide additions maintained nanoparticles but did not induce phase transitions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Glass Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Fluorochlorozirconate glasses are advanced materials with potential applications in optics and photonics.
- Understanding their crystallization behavior is crucial for controlling material properties.
- Barium chloride nanoparticles can form within these glasses, influencing their structure and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the crystallization phenomena of fluorochlorozirconate glasses.
- To determine the effect of reducing agents and oxide additions on nanoparticle formation and phase transitions.
- To correlate structural changes with material properties.
Main Methods:
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermal analysis.
- Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) for structural and dynamic investigations.
- Controlled heat treatment of glass samples with varying compositions.
Main Results:
- Re-melting the glass with a reducing agent suppressed barium chloride nanoparticle precipitation, unlike its presence during initial synthesis.
- Addition of small amounts of oxide to the fluoride melt maintained nanoparticle presence.
- The predicted hexagonal to orthorhombic phase transition of barium chloride nanoparticles was not induced by oxide additions.
- Inelastic neutron scattering indicated increased 'hardness' in heat-treated glass, suggesting a more ordered structure.
Conclusions:
- The timing of reducing agent addition significantly impacts nanoparticle precipitation in fluorochlorozirconate glasses.
- Oxide additions can stabilize nanoparticles but do not promote predicted phase transitions.
- Heat treatment leads to structural ordering and increased material hardness.
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