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Bond-controlled configurational entropy reduction in chemical vitrification
Silvia Corezzi1, Daniele Fioretto, Pierangelo Rolla
1Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, I-06123, Perugia, Italy. Silvia.Corezzi@fisica.unipg.it
Nature
|December 13, 2002
Summary
Physical and chemical vitrification, though different, show similar dynamics and thermodynamics. This study reveals that similar configurational restrictions explain these similarities in glass formation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Glass formation typically involves physical vitrification, where liquids avoid crystallization upon cooling or compression.
- Chemical vitrification, involving polymerization via irreversible bonds, is crucial for engineering plastics and resins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the surprising similarities in dynamics and thermodynamics between physical and chemical glass formers.
- To elucidate the universal nature of the glass transition by explaining these observed similarities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized dielectric and photon-correlation spectroscopy to measure the dynamical behavior of glass formers.
- Quantified configurational restrictions and their evolution in both physical and chemical vitrification processes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that the evolution of configurational restrictions is similar in both physical and chemical glass formation.
- Established a direct link between the reduction in configurational entropy and the number of chemical bonds formed.
Conclusions:
- The observed similarities in glass transition dynamics stem from analogous configurational restriction pathways.
- Understanding these similarities offers insights into the universal aspects of the glass transition and the role of chemical bonding.
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