Thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of new As–Ge–Se–Sb glasses

Thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of As14Ge14Se72−xSbx (where x = 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 at.%) glasses are studied by the differential scanning calorimetry. The values of the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the peak temperature of crystallization (Tp) are found to be dependent on heating rate and antimony content. From the heating rate dependence of Tg and Tp the values of the activation energy for glass transition (Et) and the activation energy for crystallization (Ec) are evaluated and their composition dependence discussed. Crystallization studies have been made under non-isothermal conditions with the samples heated at several uniform rates. Using a recent analysis developed for non-isothermal crystallization studies, information on some aspects of the crystallization process has been obtained. The stability calculations emphasized that the thermal stability decreases with increasing the Sb content.