Heterogeneous Plantinum Nucleation and Crystallization of a Heavy-Metal Fluoride Glass

The effect of controlled heterogeneous nucleation by platinum on the crystallization of a ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃-AlF₃-NaF (ZBLAN) glass was studied. Various levels of platinum were incorporated into this glass by a combination of PtCl₂-doping and melting-atmosphere variation. The effect of doping levels and melting conditions on the incorporation of platinum and the subsequent nucleation of crystals was studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction. Increased platinum in the glass resulted in an increased number of nucleation sites for the growth of β-ZrF₄-BaF₂ crystals. Analysis of isothermal and ramp-rate DSC measurements indicated that the crystallization of this glass changed from surface controlled to bulk controlled with an increased number of nuclei. This was confirmed by optical microscopy. In addition, Avrami analysis of the isothermal crystallization data gave an accurate approximation of the number of nuclei in the glass.