Competition of glass and crystal: phase-field model

Abstract

The phase-field model for the description of the solidification processes with the glass-crystal competition is suggested. The model combines the first-order phase transition model in the phase-field formalism and gauge-field theory of glass transition. We present a self-consistent system of stochastic motion equations for unconserved order parameters describing the crystal-like short-range ordering and vitrification. It is shown, that the model qualitatively describes the glass-crystal competition during quenching with finite cooling speed. The nucleation of the crystalline phase at slow cooling speeds and low undercoolings proceeds by a fluctuation mechanism. The model demonstrates the tendency to amorphization with the increase of its cooling rate.

References in corpus (4)

• Theoretical perspective on the glass transition and amorphous materials
• Mosaic multi-state scenario vs. one-state description of supercooled liquids
• Solidification fronts in supercooled liquids: how rapid fronts can lead to disordered glassy solids
• Thermodynamics, formation dynamics and structural correlations in the bulk amorphous phase of the phase-field crystal model