Determination of T-T-T and T-HR-T curves from non-isothermal crystallization kinetic experiments

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetic experiments on glassy materials are easily performed using a scanning differential calorimeter. The method has been used very often to determine the activation energy of a process and sometimes even a reaction mechanism. Of more fundamental interest is the establishment of the evolution of the transformation temperature with the heating rate of the glass. A new set of temperature-heating rate-transformation curves is proposed to characterize such behaviour. The classical time-temperature-transformation curves are also of interest. We demonstrate that the low temperature part of both kinds of curves can be obtained from the study of the crystallization kinetics. The study of a metallic glass is given to show some of the advantages and limitations of the procedure. © 1992.