Phase Transformations in the NiS Nickel Sulphide: Microstructure, Mechanisms and Modelling through In Situ Microscopy.

Nickel sulphide (NiS) can form inclusions in tempered glass which lead to fracture due to a phase transformation with a volume change of about 4%. A heat treatment, aiming to provoke this phase transformation, is currently used in industry to reduce this effect. In order to propose more efficient treatments, a complete study going from identification of the transformation mechanisms to the modelling of the transformation was carried out. Depending on stoichiometry and temperature, two mechanisms for the transformation (partitioned or partitionless) have been evidenced by detailed microstructural and calorimetric studies leading to a fruitful parallel with the Fe-C phase transformations which provides the basis for further modelling of the kinetics. An in situ follow up of the transformation by optical microscopy has given information (like nucleation rate and interface migration velocity) necessary to build the kinetic models. This modelling is based on Zener and Zener-Hillert kinetics models for interface velocity and described the transformation under isothermal treatment and anisothermal conditions.