Glassy relaxation

Extensive measurements show that self-diffusivities in the relaxed glassy state are time independent and closely exhibit Arrhenius behavior (i.e., In Z), vs. 1/T plots appear as essentially straight lines) [8-11]. The diffusion therefore is thermally activated (in contrast to self-diffusion in the liquid above Tg as described in Section 10.1). 

Palmer R G, Stein D L, Abrahams E and Anderson P W 1984 Models of hierarohioally oonstrained dynamios for glassy relaxation Phys. Rev. Lett. 53 958-61... 

At the transition between glassy and rubbery behavior, a distinct relaxation occurs. From one viewpoint, the molecules have enough time to jostle into more relaxed conformations from another, they have enough thermal energy to do so. 

At longer times an increase in compliance marks the relaxation of the glassy state to the rubbery state. Again, an increase of temperature through Tg would produce the same effect. 

A variety of experimental techniques have been employed to research the material of this chapter, many of which we shall not even mention. For example, pressure as well as temperature has been used as an experimental variable to study volume effects. Dielectric constants, indices of refraction, and nuclear magnetic resonsance (NMR) spectra are used, as well as mechanical relaxations, to monitor the onset of the glassy state. X-ray, electron, and neutron diffraction are used to elucidate structure along with electron microscopy. It would take us too far afield to trace all these different techniques and the results obtained from each, so we restrict ourselves to discussing only a few types of experimental data. Our failure to mention all sources of data does not imply that these other techniques have not been employed to good advantage in the study of the topics contained herein. 

The Metravib Micromecanalyser is an inverted torsional pendulum, but unlike the torsional pendulums described eadier, it can be operated as a forced-vibration instmment. It is fully computerized and automatically determines G, and tan 5 as a function of temperature at low frequencies (10 1 Hz). Stress relaxation and creep measurements are also possible. The temperature range is —170 to 400°C. The Micromecanalyser probably has been used more for the characterization of glasses and metals than for polymers, but has proved useful for determining glassy-state relaxations and microstmctures of polymer blends (285) and latex films (286). 

Cole and Davidson s continuous distribution of correlation times [9] has found broad application in the interpretation of relaxation data of viscous liquids and glassy solids. The corresponding spectral density is ... 

In the preparation and processing of ionomers, plasticizers may be added to reduce viscosity at elevated temperatures and to permit easier processing. These plasticizers have an effect, as well, on the mechanical properties, both in the rubbery state and in the glassy state these effects depend on the composition of the ionomer, the polar or nonpolar nature of the plasticizer and on the concentration. Many studies have been carried out on plasticized ionomers and on the influence of plasticizer on viscoelastic and relaxation behavior and a review of this subject has been given 119]. However, there is still relatively little information on effects of plasticizer type and concentration on specific mechanical properties of ionomers in the glassy state or solid state. 

Kolarik, J. Secondary Relaxations in Glassy Polymers Hydrophilic Polymethacrylates and Polyacrylates Vol. 46, pp. 119—161. 

Up to now it has been tacitly assumed that each molecular motion can be described by a single correlation time. On the other hand, it is well-known, e.g., from dielectric and mechanical relaxation studies as well as from photon correlation spectroscopy and NMR relaxation times that in polymers one often deals with a distribution of correlation times60 65), in particular in glassy systems. Although the phenomenon as such is well established, little is known about the nature of this distribution. In particular, most techniques employed in this area do not allow a distinction of a heterogeneous distribution, where spatially separed groups move with different time constants and a homogeneous distribution, where each monomer unit shows essentially the same non-exponential relaxation. Even worse, relaxation... 

Molecular Motion in amorphous atactic polystyrene (PS) is more complicated and a number of relaxation processes, a through 5 have been detected by various techniques as reviewed recently by Sillescu74). Of course, motions above and below the glass transition temperature Tg have to be treated separately, as well as chain and side group mobility, respectively. Motion well above Tg as well as phenyl motion in the glassy state, involving rapid 180° jumps around their axes to the backbone has been discussed in detail in Ref.17). Here we will concentrate on chain mobility in the vicinity of the glass transition. 

Polycarbonate (PC) serves as a convenient example for both, the direct determination of the distribution of correlation times and the close connection of localized motions and mechanical properties. This material shows a pronounced P-relaxation in the glassy state, but the nature of the corresponding motional mechanism was not clear 76 80> before the advent of advanced NMR techniques. Meanwhile it has been shown both from 2H NMR 17) and later from 13C NMRSI) that only the phenyl groups exhibit major mobility, consisting in 180° flips augmented by substantial small angle fluctuations about the same axis, reaching an rms amplitude of 35° at 380 K, for details see Ref. 17). 

Apparently local motions indicating differences in packing are closely related to the mechanical properties of glassy polymers. One of the puzzling features of the P-relaxation in PC as in other glassy polymers 3 6 76 77) is that it often is suppressed if the glass transition temperature is lowered by adding a plasticizer. The material then becomes brittle, which severely limits the applications of such polymers. Such low... 

In summary, the NFS investigation of FC/DBP reveals three temperature ranges in which the detector molecule FC exhibits different relaxation behavior. Up to 150 K, it follows harmonic Debye relaxation ( exp(—t/x) ). Such a distribution of relaxation times is characteristic of the glassy state. The broader the distribution of relaxation times x, the smaller will be. In the present case, takes values close to 0.5 [31] which is typical of polymers and many molecular glasses. Above the glass-to-liquid transition at = 202 K, the msd of iron becomes so large that the/factor drops practically to zero. 

---