Resolution of overlapping peaks and the determination of kinetic parameters for the crystallization of multicomponent system from DTA or DSC curves: II. Isothermal kinetics

A computer program has been created to separate overlapping exothermic DTA (DSC) effects, obtained under isothermal conditions, occurring due to simul taneous crystallization processes, and also to calculate the kinetic parame ters of the processes represented by each peak. A graphical method for the estimation of the required parameters, i.e. init ialization, and the refinement of the initial values by the least squares m ethod is presented. The procedure for the determination of the kinetic parameters from DTA data is demonstrated on a model system and on a kinetic analysis of mullite for mation from single phase gel. The two-step mullite crystallization model wa s proposed and the fitting was remarkably good throughout the whole tempera ture range. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.