Effect of PET on the crystallization of lithium/sodium acetate glasses studied by isothermal and non-isothermal kinetic methods

The kinetic parameters for the crystallization of CH3COOLi/CH3COONa glasses varying the Li:Na mole fraction LN21(2:1), LN31(3:1), LN41(4:1) and LN32(3:2) have been evaluated by isothermal and non-isothermal DSC measurements. Crystallization of LN21 samples containing variable amounts of poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) has also been studied. Values of the Avrami exponent n varying between 2.05 and 2.33 were obtained from both isothermal and non-isothermal methods for all LN glasses, indicating a diffusion-controlled crystal growth with a decreasing nucleation rate. The more pronounced effect of PET on glass crystallization has been observed for low polymer amounts, being interpreted as due to polymer miscibility with the glass, which is absent for high PET amounts. The value of n = 4.75 for LN21+PET (3%) suggests a change in the crystallization mechanism from diffusion-controlled to interface-controlled crystal growth. The apparent activation energy (E) decreased with increasing PET amount, evidencing an improvement in glass stability against crystallization.