Resolving the controversy on the glass transition temperature of water?

We consider experimental data on the dynamics of water (1) in glass-forming aqueous mixtures with glass transition temperature T(g) approaching the putative T(g) = 136 K of water from above and below, (2) in confined spaces of nanometer in size, and (3) in the bulk at temperatures above the homogeneous nucleation temperature. Altogether, the considered relaxation times from the data range nearly over 15 decades from 10(-12) to 10(3) s. Assisted by the various features in the isothermal spectra and theoretical interpretation, these considerations enable us to conclude that relaxation of un-crystallized water is highly non-cooperative. The exponent β(K) of its Kohlrausch stretched exponential correlation function is not far from having the value of one, and hence the deviation from exponential time decay is slight. Albeit the temperature dependence of its α-relaxation time being non-Arrhenius, the corresponding T(g)-scaled temperature dependence has small steepness index m, likely less than 44 at T(g), and hence water is not "'fragile" as a glassformer. The separation in time scale of the α- and the β-relaxations is small at T(g), becomes smaller at higher temperatures, and they merge together shortly above T(g). From all these properties and by inference, water is highly non-cooperative as a glass-former, it has short cooperative length-scale, and possibly smaller configurational entropy and change of heat capacity at T(g) compared with other organic glass-formers. This conclusion is perhaps unsurprising because water is the smallest molecule. Our deductions from the data rule out that the T(g) of water is higher than 160 K, and suggest that it is close to the traditional value of 136 K.     

Simple modification of the temperature dependence of the Sanchez–Lacombe equation of state

In this work, the interaction energy term of the Sanchez–Lacombe equation of state (SL EOS) was modified to take into account the temperature dependence of hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions. A simple function was used in the form of the Langmuir equation that reduces to the original SL EOS at high temperature. Comparisons are shown between the ?*-modified SL EOS and the original SL EOS. The ?*-modified SL EOS could represent volumetric data for the group of non-polar fluids, polar fluids and ionic liquids to within an absolute average deviation (AAD) of 0.85%, 0.51%, and 0.054%, respectively whereas, the original Sanchez–Lacombe EOS gave AAD values of 0.99%, 1.2%, and 0.21%, respectively. The ?*-modified SL EOS provides remarkably better PVT representation and can be readily applied to mixtures.     

On the continuity of the diffusion behaviour at amorphous polymer–polymer interfaces on both sides of the bulk glass transition temperature

The diffusion behaviour at amorphous polystyrene (PS)–PS interfaces has been investigated over an interval of temperatures (T) from below to above the bulk glass transition temperature (T _g ^bulk) using the Arrhenius and Vogel-Fulcher approaches. No discontinuity in the variation of the logarithm of the diffusion coefficient versus 1/T has been observed when going through the PS T _g ^bulk over a broad interval of T, from T _g ^bulk???50 °C to T _g ^bulk?+?50 °C. The molecular mechanism of interdiffusion has been discussed.     

Towards an accurate and precise determination of the solid–solid transition temperature of enantiotropic systems

This paper presents two distinct methods for the determination of the solid–solid transition temperature (T_tr) separating the temperature ranges of stability of two crystallographic forms, hereafter called morphs, of a same substance. The first method, based on thermodynamic calculations, consists in determining T_tr as the temperature at which the Gibbs free energies of the two morphs are equal to each other. For this purpose, some thermodynamic characteristics of both morphs are required, such as the specific heat capacities, the melting temperatures and the melting enthalpies. These are obtained using the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In the second method, T_tr is determined directly by an experimental study of the temperature ranges of stability of each morph. The three main originalities of the method developed are (i) to prepare samples composed by an isomassic mixture of crystals of both morphs, (ii) to set them in a thermostated and agitated suspension, and (iii) to use an in situ Raman spectroscopic probe for the determination of the crystallographic form of the crystals in suspension at equilibrium. Both methods are applied to determine the solid–solid transition temperature of the enantiotropic system of Etiracetam, and both of its two crystallographic forms so far identified, named morph I and morph II. The first method is shown to be very sensitive to the experimental data obtained by DSC while the second experimental method is a more accurate, precise, time- and effort-friendly method for the determination of T_tr. The solid–solid transition temperature of the Etiracetam system, determined with the second method, using three different solvents, is found to be equal to 303.65 K ± 0.5 K.     

Dynamic mechanical response of plasticizer-laden acoustic polyurethanes extrapolated to higher frequencies using time–temperature superposition technique

Acoustically transparent elastomers are the windows through which the US Navy views the ocean. For acoustic clarity and sensitivity, it is important that these elastomers operate well outside damping conditions as dictated by the temperatures and frequencies of interest. Damping behavior is characterized by a peak in the loss tangent and is associated with transitions in molecular mobility, such as the primary glass–rubber or alpha transition. However, the temperature and frequency location of this peak can shift in response to absorbed plasticizing fluids. This material characteristic is under investigation using dynamic mechanical analysis to assess its dependence on the plasticizer and polyurethane component chemistry. In this second stage of the research, the time–temperature superposition technique was employed to extrapolate storage modulus and loss factor to frequencies beyond the limits of the equipment. The technique appears to be valid for plasticized primary transition behavior but becomes circumspect when applied to secondary transition behavior.     

Thermal analysis of cadmium addition on the glass transition and crystallization kinetics of Se–Te–Sn glassy network

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Calorimetric measurements have been performed in quaternary glassy system Se78−xTe20Sn2Cdx (x = 0, 2, 4, and 6) to study the...     

Influence of macroinitiator’s glass transition temperature on the response times of polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Glass transition temperature (T_g), an important parameter of polymer, was reported to have great influence on the electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). In this study, macroinitiators with different T_g were synthesised by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation, and used to prepare PDLCs with different T_g block chains. The effect of different T_g of the block chains on response times was investigated. It was found that rise time decreased and decay time increased with the decrease of the block chain’s T_g. We proposed a possible mechanism by which T_g of the block chains influence response times.     

On the scaling law of the evolution of lap-shear strength with healing temperature at amorphous polymer−polymer interfaces and surface glass transition

The evolution of lap-shear strength (σ) with healing temperature T _h at symmetric and asymmetric amorphous polymer−polymer interfaces formed of the samples with vitrified bulk has been investigated. It has been found that the square root of the lap-shear strength behaves with respect to healing temperature as σ ^1/2 ~ T _h both at symmetric and asymmetric interfaces. Basing on this scaling law between σ and T _h, the values of the surface glass transition temperature ( T_g^surface ) \left( {T_{\rm{g}}^{\rm{surface}}} \right) have been estimated for a number of amorphous polymers by the extrapolation of the experimental curves σ ^1/2 ~ T _h for symmetric polymer−polymer interfaces and, in some cases, for asymmetric, both compatible and incompatible, polymer−polymer interfaces, to zero strength. A significant reduction in surface glass transition temperature T_g^surface T_{\rm{g}}^{\rm{surface}} with respect to the glass transition temperature of the polymer bulk ( T_g^bulk ) \left( {T_{\rm{g}}^{\rm{bulk}}} \right) , reported earlier, has been confirmed by the use of the new proposed approach. The quasi-equilibrium surface glass transition temperature T_g^surface T_{\rm{g}}^{\rm{surface}} of amorphous polystyrene (PS) has been predicted in the framework of an Arrhenius approach using the plot “logarithm of healing time − reciprocal surface glass transition temperature T_g^surface￠￠ T_{\rm{g}}^{\rm{surface}}\prime \prime and the activation energy of the surface alpha-relaxation of PS has been calculated.     

Estimation of the normal boiling points of water and 1,2-dimethoxyethane through the viscosity–temperature dependence in the corresponding binary mixtures

Excess quantities calculated from literature values of experimental density and viscosity in 1,2-dimethoxyethane + water binary systems (from 303.15 to 323.15 K) can lead us to test different correlation equations as well as their corresponding derivative properties. Inspection of the Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) and the enthalpy of activation of viscous flow (ΔH*) shows very close values; here, we can define partial molar activation energies Ea₁ and Ea₂ for 1,2-dimethoxyethane and water, respectively, along with their individual contribution separately. Correlation between the two Arrhenius parameters of viscosity in all compositions shows existence of main distinct interaction behaviours delimited by particular mole fractions in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. Moreover, we add that correlation between Arrhenius parameters reveals interesting Arrhenius temperature which is closely related to the vapourisation temperature in the liquid vapour equilibrium, and the limiting corresponding partial molar properties can permit us to estimate the boiling points of the pure components.     

Isochronal temperature–pressure superpositioning of the α-relaxation in type-A glass formers

Dielectric spectra were obtained at ambient and elevated pressures for three ‘type-A’ glass formers, which exhibit excess intensity on the high frequency side of the structural relaxation peak. The response to pressure of the peak maximum and the excess wing suggests categorization of such glass formers into two groups: associated liquids, in which the α-relaxation and the excess wing have a different pressure dependence, and van der Waals liquids, which at fixed value of the α-relaxation time, conform to temperature–pressure superpositioning. This distinction is believed to arise from the change in the number of intermolecular bonds (non-dispersive interactions) with volume.     

Water sorption,glass transition,and freeze-concentrated glass-like transition properties of calcium maltobionate–maltose mixtures

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The water sorption, glass transition, and freeze-concentrated thermal transition properties of calcium maltobionate (MBCa)–maltose mixtures were...     

Field dependence of the optical activity of a chiral liquid crystal near the isotropic–smectic A transition

Abstract

Chiral liquid crystals exhibit molecular optical activity in the isotropic phase. We have studied the evolution of the optical activity as a function of an applied electric field on a 76·2 μm film of the chiral liquid crystal W7, which exhibits an isotropic–smectic A transition at approximately 40°C. We measured the optical activity by recording the rotation of the plane of polarization of an incident linearly polarized ray of light, provided by a He–Ne laser. The applied biasing electric field is parallel to the direction of the incident beam. We find that at 41·0°C, the plane of polarization shifts from ?1·1° for an applied voltage of 30 V to a maximum of ?4·0° at 70 V. The absolute value of the signal decreases beyond this voltage. These shifts are in the direction of the smectic A phase and are in general larger than those observed as a function of temperature. Close to the isotropic–smectic A phase transition, molecules inside the liquid coalesce to form dynamic coherent groups, which have smectic nature. These groups are randomly oriented with respect to each other in the absence of an electric field. The application of an electric field causes the molecules within these groups to align along the direction of the field and to contribute coherently to the optical activity of the system. The way the molecules align with the field depends on the relative values of the polarizability α, which contributes to the alignment of the long axis of the molecule, and the dipole moment p, which contributes to the alignment of the short axis of the molecule. Our preliminary results and calculations suggest that for small fields, the electric field couples with the dipole moment p, whereas for fields in excess of 70 V, the field couples with the polarizability of the long axis of the molecule, causing a rotational reorientation of the molecules in the isotropic phase. The value of the field at which this reorientation occurs may be controlled by temperature.     

Correlation between glass transition and crystallization phenomena in context of Meyer–Neldel rule

The physical origin of the glass transition and its possible connection with crystallization is still an unresolved problem of glass science. Recent publications demonstrate the strong evidence of intrinsic relation between glass transition and crystallization phenomena. Here, we study this problem by using Meyer–Neldel rule (MNR) as a tool. The observation of MNR in thermally activated non-isothermal crystallization was verified by us in past. The objective of the present work is to check the applicability of MNR for thermally activated non-isothermal glass transition and crystallization in some chalcogenide glasses. We found that like crystallization, the glass transition phenomenon also obeys the MNR.     

Evidence of ZrO2 sol–gel transition by gelation time and viscosity

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Sol–gel transition is a stage of the sol that evolves towards the formation of a gel-like network and that exhibits gradually a mobility loss....     

Effect of copper addition on glass transition of silicate–phosphate glasses

Glass transformation effect of mixed SiO₂?CP₂O₅?CK₂O?CMgO?CCaO?CCuO glasses was studied by DSC, XRD, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy methods. The relationship between the parameters characterizing glass transformation effect and an amount of phosphorous and copper forming the glassy structure was discussed. It was shown that an increasing content of phosphorous increased solubility of copper in the structure of the studied glasses which was the result of P?CO?CCu bonds formation. Degree of changes of T _g, ?c _p, and time of relaxation values were higher in glasses with higher content of P₂O₅ and CuO. The observed relations were explained on the basis of the local atomic interactions in the structure of glass.     

Density and temperature dependence of the relaxation of the 1Δg state of highly compressed O2 fluid

The electronic relaxation of O₂ is investigated by an absorption excitation and fluorescence detection technique. The relaxation rate constant of O₂(¹Δ_g) is measured in the density range from 10²¹ to 3 × 10²² cm⁻³ at temperatures between 90 and 295 K. The experimental results are compared with theoretical models based on the pair distribution functions of the fluid. The effects of intermolecular potentials with hard or soft cores are discussed.