On the phenomena of partial crystallization of highly undercooled magnesium silicate molten droplets

The present work reports real-time observations of the phenomena of partial crystallization of one of the glass-forming materials, namely enstatite (MgSiO₃) from its supercooled liquid droplet. Initially, the molten droplet has been held under purely non-contact conditions using the aerodynamic levitation technique. The desired levels of undercooling have been achieved by deliberately making the levitated molten droplet touch a thin molybdenum wire and hence to initiate heterogeneous nucleation from the point of contact. Influence of thermal parameters like undercooling, cooling rates and recalescence on the process of crystallization is investigated. To understand and report the morphological properties and extent of crystallinity, the solidified enstatite samples have been characterized using optical/scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively, which confirmed the formation of partially crystallized enstatite spherules and fully glass spherules. XRD showed sharp peaks of enstatite, which confirm crystallinity and a halo profile confirms the amorphous phase of enstatite. Based on the observations of several experiments, we propose the effect of thermal parameters such as levels of undercooling and recalescence on the partial crystallization, as well as partial glass formation from the initially molten droplets of enstatite composition.