New insights into crystallization and phase separation in materials!

New insights into crystallization and phase separation in materials!

A new review article on crystallization and phase saving in materials was published today on March 17, 2025. The journal "Progress in Materials Science" takes up this comprehensive work in which Dr. Wolfgang Wisniewski, a research assistant to professorship in electron microscopy and microstructure analysis, plays a central role. As the Technical University of Chemnitz , the authors treat the basic processes that influence the microstructure and the properties of materials.

The article deals with the importance of crystallization and phase saving, which are crucial for the production and development of materials. These processes are particularly evident in glasses and melts of glass, the high viscosity of which enables slow conversions. The review covers research in the past five decades and focuses on methods for the targeted adjustment of microstructures and material properties.

methods of crystallization

A central methodological aspect of the work is the re -flour electron base (EBSD), which Dr. Wisniewski has been using local orientation measurement and phase identification for over 15 years. In recent years, Rüssel and Wisniewski have discovered parallels between early oxidation stages of metallic alloys and the crystallization of glasses, which provides valuable findings for material research.

The crystallization is defined as a physical process in which a fabric merges from the liquid into the solid phase. During this process, crystallization dollpie is released, which means that the energy that is becoming free is equal to the energy required for melting, but with the opposite sign. This isothermal process leads to changes in the thermodynamic state variables such as specific volume and pressure, while the surrounding environment absorbs the heat cast. The specific crystallization enthalpy depends on the fabric, as can be observed in water, which may be cooled up to a few degrees below zero without freezing.

practical applications in industry

The knowledge of crystallization also finds practical use in industry, especially in the field of material technology, where metals are primarily treated in their fixed state of aggregate. The slow cooling of the metal melt plays a crucial role in crystallization, while the melt keeps a certain temperature in order to release the necessary crystallization detection. Technologies such as thermal evaporation and cathode caution support these processes.

Crystallization can be carried out by both homogeneous and heterogeneous germ formation, the latter being caused in alloys and impurities. The speed of the crystallization and the number of germs are decisive for the results. Fine grain, mostly favored by rapid cooling or foreign germs, increases the strength of the materials, while coarse -grained structures that arise from slowly cooling, the stability of which can affect.

The review article "Glass-Ceramic Engineering: Tailoring the Microstructure and Properties" by Christian Rüssel and Wolfgang Wisniewski thus represents an important step in researching crystallization and phase crossings. The authors' contact details are available on the publication page. These findings will not only be of great importance for science, but also for industry.