Crystallization kinetics of fluoride nanocrystals in oxyfluoride glasses

Oxyfluoride glasses containing different alkaline earth fluoride (CaF2, SrF2, and BaF2) were prepared and their crystallization behavior was analyzed using non-isothermal kinetics based upon differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scan results. The glass containing CaF2 showed the fastest kinetics for CaF2 crystallization, while that containing BaF2 showed the slowest kinetics for BaF2 crystallization. On the other hand, all the oxyfluoride glasses showed very similar behavior in the crystallization of glass matrices. The difference in the crystallization behavior of the oxyfluoride glasses was discussed based upon the difference in the size of alkaline earth ions and the difference in the dissociation energy of alkaline earth-fluorine bonds.