Crystallization Activation Energy Research Articles

Crystallization Behavior and Structure of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 Melts Representing the Oxide Inclusions in Si‐Mn Deoxidized Steel

For further optimization of the inclusion plasticization control process of Si‐Mn deoxidized steel, the crystallization behavior and structure of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 system inclusions are investigated. The crystallization behavior of four typical low melting point CaO–SiO2–Al2O3 inclusions at 1000 to 1250 °C is studied by steel crucible isothermal heating experiment. The obtained results reveal that the glassy stability of the inclusions is high when the composition of low melting point inclusion is located in the eutectic region of tridymite, pseudowollastonite, and anorthite in the ternary phase diagram. However, when the composition of the inclusion is located in the eutectic region of melilite, pseudowollastonite, and anorthite, it is easy to undergo glass‐crystallization transformation and precipitate wollastonite and anorthite crystalline phases when isothermal heating at 1100 to 1200 °C. In addition, the crystallization mode of these inclusions is mainly surface crystallization, and the crystallization degree of inclusions increases with the increase of heat treatment temperature and time. The activation energy of crystallization and the content of nonbridging oxygen in the silicate structure NBO/T can be used to predict the crystallization ability of inclusions. The greater the activation energy of crystallization and the smaller the NBO/T value, the higher the glassy stability of the inclusions.

Effect of the synergistic interaction of zinc adipate, hydrotalcite and ethylene propylene rubber on the performances of polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP) is widely used in a range of areas due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, but its low-temperature brittleness and low-impact resistance largely limits its application. Hence, this study investigated the changes in mechanical and thermal properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) modified by the addition of the β-nucleating agent zinc adipate (ZnAA), the inorganic rigid particle hydrotalcite (HT), and the rubber elastomer bipropylene rubber (EPR). The structure and properties of modified PP were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electronic universal material testing machine, and simple-beam impact testing machine. At last, the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of iPP was investigated by the Caze method. It was found that with the addition of EPR reached 30 wt%, the notched impact strength of iPP was 34.74 kJ/m2, which was 542.43 % higher than that of pure iPP, and more than twice as high as that of ZnAA and HT modification, and the relative crystallinity ( K β) value of the β-crystalline form reached 79.66 % when 10 wt% EPR was added to the iPP. The addition of ZnAA, HT and EPR could significantly increase the crystallisation peak temperature ( T c), shorten the half-crystallisation time ( t 1/2) and increase the crystallisation activation energy ( ΔE) of iPP.

Crystallization behaviour, structure, and photocatalytic properties of SiO2-B2O3-Li2O-WO3-Bi2O3 glass-ceramics containing Bi2WO6 crystals

SiO2-B2O3-Li2O-WO3-Bi2O3 system parent glass was prepared by the melt-quenching method and glass-ceramics containing the Bi2WO6 crystals were obtained by a one-step heat treatment. The crystallization kinetics of the parent glass were investigated, and the effect of the different heat-treatment regimes on the microscopic morphology and optical bandgaps of the glass-ceramics was discussed. The results show that the crystallization activation energy of the parent glass is about 300 kJ/mol and the precipitated Bi2WO6 crystals exist in a columnar structure. As obtained from the UV–Vis spectra, the glass-ceramic with a heat treatment regime of 640 °C/2 h has the smallest optical bandgap (2.45 eV). During the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye, the glass-ceramic with a heat treatment regime of 640 °C/2 h shows the best catalytic degradation performance, reaching a dye degradation rate of 76 % at 120 min. The experimental results indicate that glass-ceramics containing Bi2WO6 crystals have promising applications in the field of sewage treatment.

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and activation energy modeling of carbon nanotubes dispersed high-density polyethylene and polypropylene blends

The study presents the effect of the reinforcement of carbon nanotubes (CNT) into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) blends. The Avrami exponent of CNT blends ranges within the 1.3–1.6 range. It demonstrates the 3D growth of crystals and nucleation activity during crystallization. The change in the Ozawa exponent indicates a two-stage crystallization process. The values of the Mo exponent show that the nucleation activity is affected by changing temperatures during the cooling process and the formation of high-quality crystal growth. The activation energy of the HDPE/PP matrix is 420.5 kJ/mol and adding 1.5% CNT resulted in 369.9 kJ/mol for Run-3. The polymer chains encounter difficulties in transitioning during the cooling process and release a significant amount of energy. The composition of the nanofiller in the blend affects the nucleation activity of the crystals. The permeability of the pure HDPE/PP sample obtained from sorption studies is 1.05 × 10−5 m2/s and adding 1.5% CNT in Run-3 provides a permeability of 5.2 × 10−5 m2/s. The CNT has a homogeneous dispersion in the matrix to form a net-like morphology. The crystallinity index calculated using the Seagal method for HDPE/PP, Run-3, Run-4 and Run-5 is 75%, 75.8%, 77.34% and 78%, respectively.

Estimating the activation energy of crystallization in blends of poly L‐lactic acid and poly(propylene 2,5‐furan dicarboxylate) during isothermal melt crystallization using temperature dependent infrared spectroscopy

Estimating the activation energy of crystallization in blends of poly L‐lactic acid and poly(propylene 2,5‐furan dicarboxylate) during isothermal melt crystallization using temperature dependent infrared spectroscopy

Thickness dependence and crystallization properties of amorphous GeTe thin films on silicon dioxide

Radio frequency magnetron sputtering was used to prepare the amorphous GeTe thin films on silicon dioxide and the thickness effects on the crystallization behavior were investigated. With the film thickness reducing, the crystallization temperature, crystallization activation energy, amorphous and crystalline resistance increase remarkably, indicating the great improvement in thermal stability and power consumption. Ozawa’s model was used to estimate the crystallization kinetics of GeTe thin films, it shows that nucleation and grain growth occur simultaneously, and grain growth dominates ultimately. XRD analysis demonstrated that the grain size can be reduced and the crystallization process of GeTe thin film can be inhibited with the film thickness decreasing. Furthermore, the thinner film has smaller resistance drift index and surface roughness, which are beneficial to improve the reliability of storage device. T-type phase change memory devices based on 25 nm GeTe thin film were fabricated by 0.13 μm CMOS technology, and the current–voltage and resistance-voltage characteristics demonstrate the excellent electrical performance, including the fast resistance switching between SET and RESET processes, low threshold current and voltage. All the results proved the strong dependency relationships between the crystallization properties and film thickness of GeTe thin film, which paves the way for developing high-density phase change memory in the fields of big data and artificial intelligence.

Crystallization Kinetics and Melting Behavior of Novel Biobased Poly(butylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate)

AbstractPoly(butylene 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylate) (PBTh) is a novel biobased semicrystalline polyester with superior thermal, mechanical, and gas barrier properties; however, the crystallization kinetics and melting behavior of PBTh have not been studied in detail so far. The crystallization kinetics of PBTh was first studied in this research. The Ozawa equation failed to describe the nonisothermal melt crystallization kinetics of PBTh due to the secondary crystallization. The crystallization activation energy value was calculated by the Friedman method, which was negative and exhibited the conversion dependence. The isothermal melt crystallization kinetics of PBTh was well described by the Avrami equation in a wide range of crystallization temperature from 84 to 120 °C. PBTh showed the fastest crystallization rate at 104 °C; moreover, the Avrami exponent value slightly varied between 2.2 and 2.7, suggesting the same crystallization mechanism within the investigated temperature range. PBTh displayed one or two melting endotherms depending on crystallization temperature, which was well explained by the melting, recrystallization, and remelting mechanism. In addition, the equilibrium melting point of PBTh was estimated to be 163.1 °C with the Hoffmann−Weeks equation.

Revealing the effect of annealing at Tg on the crystal growth in Au49Ag5.5Pd2.3Cu26.9Si16.3 metallic glass via nanocalorimetry

In this study, Au49Ag5.5Pd2.3Cu26.9Si16.3 metallic glass is annealed at Tg and its impact on crystal growth is demonstrated with nanocalorimetry. With annealing following the rapid quenching, an amorphous phase free of nuclei, a relaxed amorphous phase, an amorphous phase with nuclei, and an amorphous phase with crystals are sequentially produced. With the reheating at rates ranging from 100 to 50,000 K/s, these four stages are quantitatively distinguished. Additionally, crystal growth behaviors of these four stages are demonstrated by the Kissinger and Mauro-Yue-Ellison-Gupta-Allan model. For the quenched and relaxed amorphous phases, the apparent crystallization activation energy (Ea) decreases with increasing heating rate, with a noticeable upward deviation at ultrahigh heating rates. When nuclei and crystals form in the amorphous phase, Ea keeps decreasing with the heating rate. As the annealing time increases, the maximum growth rate (umax) exhibits a monotonic increase while the temperature corresponding to umax displays a maximum.

Transition mechanism and thermokinetic analysis of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3–Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 composite ceramics for nuclear waste forms based on in-situ synthesis

In this study, the novelly designed Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3–Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 composite ceramics were utilized as nuclear waste form to simultaneously immobilize simulated fission products Sr and actinide nuclides. The phase transition mechanism, thermokinetics and densification behavior of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3–Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 composite ceramics based on in-situ synthesis were systemically analyzed by XRD, in-situ XPS, TG-DSC, SEM and density measurements. The results demonstrate that the formation of Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 solid solution phase preceded that of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3 phase, of which there is a valence change of Ce from Ce4+ to Ce3+ before 1023 K. Additionally, as for the exothermic crystallization enthalpy, change of exothermic crystallization enthalpy and activation energy, the values of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3 and Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 phases in composite ceramics are 286.17 – 515.61 mJ, 19.11 – 35.38 J/g, 702.45 kJ/mol and 145.21 – 232.44 mJ, 9.26 – 15.44 J/g, 450.04 kJ/mol, respectively. It is then indicated that the formation of Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 phase is definitely more favorable than that of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3 phase. Simultaneously, the relative densities of Sr0.5Zr2(PO4)3–Ce0.5Sm0.5PO4 composite ceramics are more than 95 % when the sintering temperature exceeds 1273 K.

Influence of high field strength ions on the crystallization characteristics and properties of slag glass-ceramics

Blast furnace slag glass–ceramics were prepared by melting using rare-earth-containing blast furnace slag (REBFS) as the main raw material and Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 as composite nucleating agents. By adding different TiO2 contents, the study comprehensively revealed the effects of high field strength ions on the glass network structure, crystalline properties, elemental distribution and physicochemical properties. Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that TiO2 acted primarily as a network modifier in the glass network. The appropriate TiO2 content disrupted the glass network, decreasing the crystallization activation energy (EC) of the glass–ceramic. However, excess TiO2 repaired the network structure, thereby increasing the EC. The combined effect of the Cr and Ti substantially improved the crystallization characteristics of the glass-ceramics. Cr2O3 induced the formation of spinel, which promoted the crystallization of the main crystalline augite phase. The self-aggregation of the high field strength Ti4+ ion induced the formation of a titanium- and cerium-containing titanite phase, which also contributed to grain refinement. This titanite phase effectively increased the Vickers hardness and acid and alkali resistances of the glass-ceramics to 9.16 GPa and over 98.5 %, respectively. The excellent physicochemical properties render REBFS glass–ceramics as being promising materials for various construction applications. This research provides theoretical support for comprehensively utilizing blast furnace slag and provides theoretical guidance for preparing slag glass–ceramics possessing desirable physicochemical properties.

Kinetics of crystallization and soft magnetic properties of Co72Fe8B10Si10 amorphous alloys

Co72Fe8B10Si10 amorphous alloy was prepared in an Ar atmosphere using a single roller rapid quenching technique at a wheel speed of 25 m/s. The prepared ribbons were annealed for 1 h at temperatures ranging from 473 to 773 K. X-ray diffractometer was used to observe the microstructure transformation. Field emission scanning electron micrographs exhibit mosaic type structures that become more prominent with increasing annealing temperature. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was also utilized to observe the concentrations of elements. The Kissinger and Ozawa equations were utilized to determine the amorphous alloy's crystallization activation energy. The two methods revealed consistent findings in their calculations. At 473 K, the obtained maximum real initial permeability (μ′max) is 376 which remains unchanged up to 10 kHz, whereas for 573 K, μ′max is noted to be 361 to 100 kHz. Other magnetic parameters such as loss factor, quality factor, and relative quality factor were also investigated for the Co72Fe8B10Si10 amorphous alloy to elucidate its suitability in such materials based devices.

Preparation of high-performance multilayer circuits by controlling the diffusion of Ag in borosilicate glass-ceramics through the addition of SiO2

Due to its superior reliability and performance, thick film technology is extensively employed in various applications, including automotive electronics, consumer electronics, communication engineering, and aerospace. However, a challenge arises from the mutual diffusion during the electronic paste production process, which leads to a decline in insulation performance and hinders the production of three-dimensional equipment. Inspired by the principles of low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology, a multi-layered ceramic structure has been successfully bonded using thick film technology by introducing a borosilicate glass-ceramics layer. To further enhance the properties of this multi-layered ceramic structure, approximately 8 wt% SiO2 was incorporated into the borosilicate glass-ceramics. This addition effectively inhibits silver diffusion and reduces the diffusion depth within the glass-ceramic film. The key mechanisms behind this improvement are the increased activation energy for crystallization, resulting in a slower crystallization rate due to the addition of SiO2. Moreover, the multi-layered ceramic with a sandwich structure exhibits remarkable properties. Notably, the dielectric strength of this system has been significantly enhanced to 13.9 kV/mm, accompanied by a high adhesion strength of 790 N. These enhanced properties of the optimized system indicate promising characteristics for multi-layer circuit applications.

Preparation of enstatite-spinel based glass-ceramics from ferronickel slag and iron ore tailings by microwave-assisted one-step crystallization

A novel method to prepare high-quality enstatite-spinel based glass-ceramics by co-utilization of ferronickel slag (FNS) and iron ore tailings (IOT) via microwave-assisted one-step crystallization was proposed with an emphasis on the effect of IOT content on the preparation process. The thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that incorporating appropriate amounts of IOT into FNS can effectively transform olivine in FNS into enstatite. The experimental exploration revealed that the crystallization activation energy of the parent glass decreased from 564.6 kJ/mol to 351.93 kJ/mol when the IOT content increased from 30 wt% to 45 wt%. Meanwhile, the Avrami index of the parent glass increased from 3.88 to 4.81, indicating less depolymerization. In the subsequent crystallization process, with increasing content of IOT, the main phase was enstatite, accompanied by small amounts of spinel which acted as nucleation sites promoting the enstatite formation. Due to the decreased depolymerization degree that resulted in fewer nucleation sites, the average grain size of enstatite increased from 123 nm to 196 nm. By controlling crystallization of the melted mixture of 65 wt% FNS and 35 wt% IOT at 863 °C for 20 min, the resulting enstatite-spinel based glass-ceramics had excellent comprehensive properties, namely density of 3.13 g/cm3, bending strength of 153.53 MPa, Vickers microhardness of 9.22 GPa, acid resistance of 99.89%, and alkali resistance of 99.72%. With a much shorter crystallization time (1/6 of conventional one), the product obtained by microwave-assisted one-step crystallization had properties comparable to those derived from similar wastes.

Reversible Glass‐Crystal Transition in a New Type of 2D Metal Halide Perovskites

AbstractCrystalline metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have ushered in remarkable advancements across diverse fields, including materials, electronics, and photonics. While the advantages of crystallinity are well‐established, the ability to transition to a glassy state with unique properties presents unprecedented opportunities to expand the structure‐property relationship and broaden the application scope for 2D MHPs. Up until now, the exploration of amorphous analogs for MHPs is confined to high‐pressure conditions, limiting in‐depth studies and practical applications. In this context, a new type of 2D MHPs is synthesized by incorporating halogen substituted organic cations, resulting in a remarkable combination of low melting temperature and inhibited crystallization. This new type of 2D MHPs can be effectively melt‐quenched into a glassy state except for (DMIEA)3Pb2I7 (DMIEA = N, N‐dimethyl iodoethylammonium) counterpart. Analysis of the crystallization activation energy for (DMIPA)4Pb3I10 (DMIPA = N, N‐dimethyl iodopropylammonium) reveals a low crystallization activation energy of 60.7 ± 4.0 kJ mol−1, which indicates a fast glass‐crystal transition. The type of atypical 2D MHP showcases facile and reversible switching between glassy and crystalline states and opens up novel possibilities for applications, such as nonvolatile memory, optical communication, and neuromorphic computing.

Crystallization behavior and structural characteristics of Cr-doped Sb70Se30 thin films for phase change memory

In this study, we prepare Cr-doped Sb70Se30 (SS) thin films via the magnetron sputtering. The influence of Cr doping on the crystallization behavior and structure characteristics of the SS thin films is systematically studied using a combination of experimental analyzes and theoretical calculations. The results reveal that compared with SS thin films, Cr-doped SS thin films exhibit higher crystallization temperature, better data retention capability, larger crystallization activation energy, and reduced resistance drift coefficient. In addition, the incorporation of Cr effectively suppresses grain growth in the SS thin films and refines the grain size. The electrical transport properties of the Cr-doped SS thin films are analyzed using a Hall system. Both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and first-principles calculations indicate that Cr is more prone to occupy Sb atoms and form stronger Cr–Se bonds, consequently enhancing the stability of the SS thin films. Raman spectroscopy confirms that the introduction of Cr leads to a decrease in bond length and an increase in bond energy. Moreover, the Cr-doped SS thin film exhibits minimal volume fluctuations and a smoother surface morphology, resulting in enhanced interface performance and reliability. Taken together, these results indicate that the introduction of Cr is an effective strategy for optimizing the properties and modifying the structures of SS phase-change materials.

Research on Improved Crystallization Properties and Underlying Mechanism of the Sb2Te3 Phase-Change Thin Film by Inserting Sn15Sb85 Layers.

As a non-volatile semiconductor memory technology, phase-change memory has a wide range of application prospects as a result of the excellent comprehensive performance. In this paper, multilayer thin films based on Sb2Te3 material were designed and prepared by inserting the Sn15Sb85 layer. The thermal and electrical properties of superlattice-like Sb2Te3/Sn15Sb85 phase-change films can be adjusted by controlling the thickness ratio of Sb2Te3/Sn15Sb85. In comparison to the monolayer Sb2Te3 film, the multilayer layer Sb2Te3/Sn15Sb85 materials have a higher crystallization temperature, larger crystallization activation energy, and longer data lifetime, indicating the great improvement of thermal stability. The changes in the phase structure and vibrational modes of multilayer Sb2Te3/Sn15Sb85 films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The presence of Sn15Sb85 layers restrains grain growth and refines the grain size. The multilayer Sb2Te3/Sn15Sb85 films exhibit better surface flatness, smaller surface potential undulation, and lower thickness variations than single-layer Sb2Te3. Phase-change memory cells based on the [Sb2Te3 (1 nm)/Sn15Sb85 (9 nm)]5 thin film has a lower threshold voltage (1.9 V) and threshold current (3.1 μA) compared to the Ge2Sb2Te5 film. Meanwhile, the electrical heating model of a phase-change memory cell based on a [Sb2Te3 (1 nm)/Sn15Sb85 (9 nm)]5 multilayer structure was established by multiphysics coupling analysis, proving the great improvement in heat transfer performance and efficiency. The experimental and theoretical studies confirm that the insertion of the Sn15Sb85 layer can significantly improve the crystallization properties of Sb2Te3 films, paving the way for optimizing the phase-change materials by regulating the microstructural parameters.

Development of Sb phase change thin films with high thermal stability and low resistance drift by alloying with Se

A single Sb phase demonstrates potential for use in phase change memory devices. However, the rapid crystallization of Sb at room temperature imposes limitations on its practical application. To overcome this issue, Sb is alloyed with Se using a reactive co-sputtering deposition technique, employing both Sb and Sb2Se3 sputter targets. This process results in the formation of Sb-rich Se thin films with varying compositions. Compared to pure Sb, the Sb-rich Se thin films exhibit enhanced thermal stability due to the formation of Sb–Se bonds and reduced resistance drift. In particular, the Sb86.6Se13.4 thin film demonstrates an exceptionally low resistance drift coefficient (0.004), a high crystallization temperature (Tc = 195 °C), a high 10-year data retention temperature (116.3 °C), and a large crystallization activation energy (3.29 eV). Microstructural analysis of the Sb86.6Se13.4 reveals the formation of a trigonal Sb phase with (012) texture at 250 °C, while Sb18Se and Sb2Se3 phases form at 300 °C. Conversely, the Sb98.3Se1.7 thin film shows the formation of the single Sb phase with (001) texture, a Tc of 145 °C, and a low resistance drift coefficient (0.011). Overall, this study demonstrates that the alloying strategy is a viable approach for enhancing thermal stability and reducing resistance drift in Sb-based phase-change materials.

Low-temperature β-relaxation promotes crystallization in oxide glasses

Primary (α) structural relaxation is known to influence the nucleation behavior in glasses and it has recently been proposed to account for the so-called classical nucleation theory “breakdown” in oxide glasses around the glass transition temperature. However, it is unclear whether secondary (β-) relaxation, predominant at lower temperatures, also plays a role in promoting crystallization. Here, we study the correlation between crystallization kinetics and β-relaxation of three types of oxide glasses with distinct chemical bonds by subjecting the glasses to low-temperature annealing. We find that the activation energy of crystallization (Ea) exhibits an exponential decay with increasing annealing duration for all studied glasses. Such a decrease in Ea is found to be associated with the structural rearrangements in the glasses, especially showing a negative correlation with the enhanced atomistic interplays around modifying cations. Our findings thus point to a universal linkage between β-relaxation and nucleation kinetics in oxide network glasses.

[formula omitted] anomaly effect on crystallization and mechanical properties of soda-lime silicate glasses

In the present investigation, the effect of B2O3 is investigated on the theoretical mechanical properties and crystallization kinetics of (64-x)SiO2 - xB2O3 - 16Na2O - 12CaO - 2Al2O3 - 6MgO (x = 2, 4, and 6 mol%) glasses. To understand the mechanical properties elastic moduli are calculated using two theoretical models i.e., Makishima–Mackenzie and Rocherulle. Whereas, in crystallization kinetics, activation energies (Eg, Ec, and Ep) are computed using two distinct methods, i.e., the Kissinger model and the Augis and Bennett model. The replacement of SiO2 by B2O3 enhances the strengthening of the glass network which makes the B6-S58 glass network more rigid. The B6-S58 and B2-S62 glasses have the highest and lowest activation energy (Eg) for crystallization, respectively. B4-S60 glass shows non-linear behavior in characteristics temperature as well as in activation energy due to boron anomaly. The present finding could be helpful in designing windshield automobile glasses.

Rheological Behavior of a New Amorphous Alloy (Al74Cu16Mg10)99,7Zr0.3

A new amorphous alloy (Al74Cu16Mg10)99,7Zr0.3 was prepared the applying a melt-spinning technique. Temperature dependence of viscosity of the alloy was determined using data from a PerkinElmer TMS2 thermo-mechanical analyzer processed according to a methodology based on the Free Volume Model (FVM). The strength of the alloy was calculated according to the Yang equation and the glass-forming ability was calculated according to the values of the Angell index mA. The activation energy of crystallization and the activation energy of the glass transition were computed using data from differential scanning calorimetry and thermomechanical experiments respectively. The activation energy of crystallization Еx = 168 ± 3.7 kJ/mol, was found to be higher than the activation energy of the glass transition Еg = 156 ± 1.4 kJ/mol, which means a dominant contribution of the atomic transport barrier, compared to the nucleation barrier. The relatively high temperature interval of the supercooled melt state Tx-Tg = 32 K and the low viscosity values in the same range ƞ(Тg) = 3.40E + 11 Pa.s and ƞ(Тx) = 1.87E + 10 Pa.s would allow thermomechanical treatment of the alloy in the temperature range of supercooled melt.