DEVELOPMENT OF LiGe₂(PO₄)₃ CRYSTALLINE PHASE IN GLASS SUBJECTED TO NON ISOTHERMAL TREATMENT

Abstract

The nucleation behavior of germanium phosphate glass under non‑isothermal conditions was examined using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The study focused on how both the duration and temperature of pre‑DTA heat treatment affect the characteristic DTA peak temperature (Tp). A complex relationship between these parameters was observed. At constant temperatures, extending the annealing time during the pre‑DTA treatment led to a reduction in the Tp value. Furthermore, the effect of pre‑DTA treatment temperature on DTA parameters revealed that, for annealing times longer than tind, the inverse dependence of Tp on T mirrored the influence of temperature on nucleation rate (I), particularly in cases where the nucleation and crystallization regions partially overlapped. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), which we used in the manuscript, is one of the most reliable methods for monitoring phase transformations in glass systems. This method enables accurate detection of energy changes during heating. The application of this technique in non-isothermal conditions provides key data on the thermal stability of the samples and the kinetic parameters governing the crystallization process. Special importance is attached to the study of nucleation, which, as the initial phase of crystal growth, directly determines the final morphology and properties of the resulting glass-ceramic.