Crystallization kinetics of yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12)

The kinetics and pathways for crystallization of solid, amorphous, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) were studied using isothermal differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The activation energy for crystallization was 437 KJ/mol and the measured Avrami exponent was 2.74, which corresponded to three-dimensional crystal growth with a constant number of nuclei. Time-temperature-transformation (T-T-T) curves were developed from the data to predict crystallization rates as a function of temperature. The crystallization pathway for YAG in this system is compared to others reported in the literature.