The influence of grain size on the overall kinetics of surface-induced glass crystallization

A simple kinetic model of surface-induced glass crystallization is proposed. The grain size of glass powders, a constant density of surface nuclei and a steadily increasing temperature throughout the reaction are taken into account. The crystal growth rate and the density of surface nuclei can be estimated easily from overall kinetic curves (e.g. DTA curves) of powder of different grain size.The usefulness of the model is demonstrated in the case of the primary surface-induced crystallization of cordierite glass powders.