On the description of solid state amorphizing reactions

Growth of the metastable amorphous phase instead of stable crystalline phases in the process of chemical diffusion is explained in the framework of the theory of diffusional phase competition. The growing amorphous phase suppresses nucleation as well as the growth of crystalline phases for some time. The suppression time and the corresponding width of the amorphous layer are evaluated. The reasons for the appearance of the initial amorphous layer are discussed.