Differential thermal analysis studies on the crystallization of strontium tungstate melts. Variation of rate constants with crystallization temperatures and cooling rates

Kinetics of strontium tungstate crystallization from sodium tungstate melts were studied in platinum crucibles (by DTA) by continuous cooling from initial crystallization temperatures T₀ = 800° to 1000° to below the eutectic temperature at cooling rates R_T = 0.67° to 3.3° min⁻¹. Heterogeneous nuclei first formed slowly onto metal platinate particles within the solution during induction periods (t ); the main crystal growth then started after the development of some exces solute concentration (ΔC ) at the induction temperature (T ). The actual growth after t was diffusion rate-controlled. The diffusion rate-constants (k_Dt) for growth after the induction periods along the major axis were estimated; the increased with T₀ and R_T. These values were higher than those for diffusion-controlled crystal growth of strontium tungstate from sodium tungstate melts in alumina crucibles but much smaller than the real diffusion rate-constants (k_Dl)_real.