The phase transformation and crystallization kinetics of (1 - x)Li2O-xNa2O-Al2O3-4SiO2 glasses

The phase transformation and crystallization kinetics of (1 - x)Li2O-xNa2O-Al2O3-4SiO2 glasses have been studied by using differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED) analysis. The crystallization temperature at the exothermic peak increases from 1171 to 1212 K when the Na2O content increases from 0 to 0.6 mol. The crystalline phase is composed of spodumene crystallization when the Na2O content increases from 0 to 0.6 mol. The activation energy of spodumene crystallization decreases from 444.0 ± 22.2 to 284.0 ± 10.8 kJ mol-1 when the Na2O content increases from 0 to 0.4 mol. Moreover, the activation energy increases from 284.0 ± 10.8 to 446.0 ± 23.2 kJ mol-1 when the Na2O content increases from 0.4 to 0.6 mol. The crystallization parameters m and n approach 2, indicating that the surface nucleation and two-dimensional growth are dominant in (1 - x)Li2O-xNa2O-Al2O3-4SiO2 glasses.