DETERMINATION OF TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE NUCLEUS-MELT INTERFACIAL-TENSION FOR FE40NI40P14B6 ALLOY

The published thermodynamic data for Fe40Ni40P14B6 alloy, and the depe ndence of average grain size on crystallization temperature in glassy specimens under linear heating, have been used to re-examine the known approximations for the temperature dependence of the free energy diff erence between the glassy (liquid) and crystal phases as well as to es timate values of the interfacial nucleus-melt free energy. The obtaine d linear dependence of the interfacial tension on temperature in the r ange of 654 - 714 K (with temperature coefficient 4.6 x 10(-5) J m(-2) K-1),as used to estimate all the parameters in the expression for ste ady state homogeneous nucleation. The good agreement of the calculated temperature dependences of the interfacial diffusion coefficient and of the nucleation and growth rates with the available experimental dat a may be considered as a justification of the classical theory.