Crystallization and Melting Kinetics of Cristobalite

Abstract

By measuring internal crystallization in vitreous silica, the kinetics of crystallization and melting of cristobalite were determined near the melting point. Both processes followed linear growth kinetics and could be completely represented by the equation μ=AΔT/η. Analyses of the crystallization data and observations of the crystal morphology indicate that crystallization occurs by a continuous growth mechanism. Melting was heterogeneous, occurring only at the glass‐crystal interface and along grain boundaries.