Study of thermal stability in Se90Sb10-xAgx glassy alloys

Abstract

Alloys of Se_100-xSb_10-xAg_x (x=2, 4 &8) glassy system have been obtained by quenching technique. Kinetic parameters, which represent thermal stability, have been determined from differential scanning calorimetric technique. The rate of crystallization decreases with Ag concentration and is lowest for glassy Se₉₀Sb₂Ag₈ alloy. Thermal stability (T_c-T_g), Hruby criterion H_r , Saad Poulain ‘S’ have been found to increase with Ag concentration and are maximum for Se₉₀Sb₂Ag₈. Thus, one can conclude that the rate of crystallization is related to the thermal stability. The reduced glass transition temperature for Se₉₀Sb_10-xAg_x is found to be 2/3, which shows that these glassy alloys are suitable for phase change optical memories.