Glass transition temperatures diffusion

Hydrogels. Controlled swelling of hydrophilic polymers, derived from the glossy/mbbery properties of polymers, is used to control the rate of dmg release from matrices. In the mbbery state, accompHshed by lowering the polymer s glass-transition temperature to an appropriate level, the dispersed dmg diffuses as the polymer swells in the presence of water. 

Other Properties. The glass-transition temperature for PPO is 190 K and varies htde with molecular weight (182). The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient of PPO in the undiluted state has been measured (182). 

The advantage of the simulations compared to the experiments is that the correspondence between the tracer diffusion coefficient and the internal states of the chains can be investigated without additional assumptions. In order to perform a more complete analysis of the data one has to look at the quench-rate and chain-length dependence of the glass transition temperature for a given density [43]. A detailed discussion of these effects is far beyond the scope of this review. Here we just want to discuss a characteristic quantity which one can analyze in this context. 

The transition between crystalline and amorphous polymers is characterized by the so-called glass transition temperature, Tg. This important quantity is defined as the temperature above which the polymer chains have acquired sufficient thermal energy for rotational or torsional oscillations to occur about the majority of bonds in the chain. Below 7"g, the polymer chain has a more or less fixed conformation. On heating through the temperature Tg, there is an abrupt change of the coefficient of thermal expansion (or), compressibility, specific heat, diffusion coefficient, solubility of gases, refractive index, and many other properties including the chemical reactivity. 

Criteria 1-3 are the cardinal characteristics of Fickian diffusion and disregard the functional form of D(ci). Violation of any of these is indicative of non-Fickian mechanisms. Criterion 4 can serve as a check if the D(ci) dependence is known. As mentioned, it is crucial that the sorption curve fully adhere to Fickian characteristics for a valid determination of D from the experimental data. At temperatures well above the glass transition temperature, 7 , Fickian behavior is normally observed. However, caution should be exercised when the experimental temperature is either below or slightly above 7 , where anomalous diffusion behavior often occurs. 

MA Samus, G Rossi. Methanol absorption in ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers Relation between solvent diffusion and changes in glass transition temperature in glassy polymeric materials. Macromolecules 29 2275-2288, 1996. 

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