Modeling crystallization processes:: transformation diagrams

The crystallization processes, cold crystallization and solidification from the melt, are analyzed using a modified isoconversional method to obtain the transformation diagrams: temperature-heating/cooling rate and temperature-time. The thermal study is performed by means of differential scanning calorimetry. All transformation curves are obtained from non-isothermal calorimetric experiments. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by analysis of the crystallization process in three model materials: a Fe-Ni based material, two pharmaceutical blends with PEG and a PP-PE copolymer with different additives. Good agreement is observed between the transformation curves obtained by calculation and the experimental data, which verifies the reliability of the method. (C) 2002 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.