When physics meets chemistry at the dynamic glass transition

Area of Science:

• Physics and Chemistry
• Condensed-Matter Physics
• Molecular Physics

Background:

• Reconciling physics and chemistry at the glass transition temperature remains a profound challenge.
• The nature of the glassy state and its connection to glass transition are not fully understood.
• This interdisciplinary complexity arises from physical laws governing condensed-matter and molecular scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the working principles of scaling effects and dynamic fluctuations in glassy matter.
• To reconcile the interdisciplinary complexity between physics and chemistry.
• To provide a theoretical framework for understanding the glass transition.

Main Methods:

• Proposing a thermodynamic order-to-disorder free-energy equation for microphase separation.
• Formulating dynamic equilibria and fluctuations during glass transition.
• Employing the Adam-Gibbs (AG) domain model to analyze cooperative dynamics and molecular entanglement.

Main Results:

• The study formulates dynamic equilibria and fluctuations originating from phase and microphase separations.
• The Adam-Gibbs model suggests approximately 3.718 segments cooperatively relax within a domain at glass transition temperature.
• Theoretical modeling validates that 50 to 100 monomers relax synchronously at glass transition temperature.

Conclusions:

• The proposed thermodynamic framework and the Adam-Gibbs model offer insights into the nature of the glassy state.
• Understanding glass transition is crucial for unifying physics and chemistry.
• This research advances the comprehension of dynamic fluctuations and scaling effects in condensed matter.