Confinement and processing effects on glass transition temperature and physical aging in ultrathin polymer films: Novel fluorescence measurements

Fluorescence intensity measurements of chromophore-doped or -labeled polymers have been used for the first time to determine the effects of decreasing film thickness on glass transition temperature, T _g, the relative strength of the glass transition, and the relative rate of physical aging below T _g in supported, ultrathin polymer films. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity measured in the glassy state of thin and ultrathin films of pyrene-doped polystyrene (PS), poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) differs from that in the rubbery state with a transition at T _g. Positive deviations from bulk T _g are observed in ultrathin PiBMA and P2VP films on silica substrates while substantial negative deviations from bulk T _g are observed in ultrathin PS films on silica substrates. The relative difference in the temperature dependences of fluorescence intensity in the rubbery and glassy states is usually reduced with decreasing film thickness, indicating that the strength of the glass transition is reduced in thinner films. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity also provides useful information on effects of processing history as well as on the degree of polymer-substrate interaction. In addition, when used as a polymer label, a mobility-sensitive rotor chromophore is demonstrated to be useful in measuring relative rates of physical aging in films as thin as 10 nm. Received 21 August 2001     

Determination of kinetics parameters of glass transition in glassy Se and glassy Se98M2 alloys using DSC technique

Glassy Se and Se₉₈M₂ (M = Ag, Cd, Zn) alloys are obtained by the melt quenching technique. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique (under non-isothermal conditions) has been applied to see the effects of Ag, Cd, and Zn additives on the glass transition kinetics of Se-rich glassy alloys at different heating rates. The variation of glass transition temperature, T _g with the heating rate, β has been used to investigate the glass transition kinetics. The values of various kinetic parameters such as glass transition temperature, activation energy of glass transition, overall mean bond energy 〈E〉, heat of atomization H _S , bond strength (Se–M) have also been calculated.     

Fabrication and characterization of Ge20Sb15S65 chalcogenide glass for photonic crystal fibers

Chalcogenide glasses are known for their high transparency in the mid-infrared (IR) range, which includes two atmospheric windows that lie from 3 to 5 μm and 8 to 12 μm, respectively. Chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers have numerous potential applications in the field of IR, such as spectroscopy, microscopy, astronomy, biology, and sensing. In this paper, Ge₂₀Sb₁₅S₆₅ chalcogenide glass was fabricated and systematically studied. Chalcogenide glass has high transmission property (>70 %), good thermal stability, and good mechanical stability. The glass transition temperature T _g is 296 °C, and no exothermic peak was associated with crystallization up to 500 °C, which indicates its suitability for fiber drawing. As a result of its excellent mechanical properties, preforms with a variety of geometrical patterns were fabricated by using mechanical drilling. The near-field intensity distribution image of the drawn fiber shows a strong light propagation confinement.     

Optical properties of selenium-tellurium nanostructured thin film grown by thermal evaporation

Se-Te nanostructured thin films were deposited on glass substrates in the presence of oxygen and argon by thermal evaporation. The properties of Se-Te thin films strongly depend on the deposition method. During the process used, the substrate is cooled to a temperature of 77 K employing liquid nitrogen. The nanostructured thin films of Se_100−xTe_x (where x=4, 8 and 16) are deposited on glass substrate. The surface morphology of the deposited films was investigated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The typical size of these nanostructures is in the range 40-100 nm and the length is of the order of several micrometers. The optical parameters i.e. optical gap (E_g), absorption coefficient (α), and extinction coefficient (k) are calculated in the wavelength range 190-1100 nm. It was found that the optical band gap decreased from 3.4 to 2.9 eV when Te concentration was increased in the Se_100−xTe_x nanostructured thin films. The large bandgap may be attributed to the decrease in particle size which clearly exhibits a quantum size effect. XRD analysis was performed to confirm glassy nature of the nanostructured thin films.     

Relation between elastic modulus and glass softening temperature in the delocalized atom model

The ratio of softening temperature (glass transition temperature) to elastic modulus (T _g /E) is mainly determined by the limiting elastic deformation of an interatomic bond, which characterizes the transition of a structural microregion from an elastic into a viscous-flow state. In silicate glasses, this transition is caused by the limiting deformation of directed ionic-covalent Si-O-Si bonds. In the case of amorphous hydrocarbons, it is related to the relatively weak intermolecular bonds between regions in chain macromolecules, and the T _g /E ratio is significantly higher than in inorganic glasses. In glassy systems of one class, this ratio turns out to be constant (T _g /E ?? const), and a linear correlation is detected between softening temperature and elastic modulus, which can be explained in terms of the delocalized atom model. The values of T _g /E can be used to classify glasses similarly to the well-known Angell classification according to so-called fragility.     

Effect of nanoparticle dispersion on glass transition in thin films of polymer nanocomposites

We present spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements on thin films of polymer nanocomposites consisting of gold nanoparticles embedded in poly(styrene). The temperature dependence of thickness variation is used to estimate the glass transition temperature, T _g . In these thin films we find a significant dependence of T _g on the nature of dispersion of the embedded nanoparticles. Our work thus highlights the crucial role played by the particle polymer interface morphology in determining the glass transition in particular and thermo-mechanical properties of such nanocomposite films.     

Crystallization kinetics of the TeO2–BaO glass system

Tellurite glasses of the system (100–x)TeO₂–xBaO, with x = 05, 10, 15 and 20 wt%, have been prepared and studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization kinetics of the glasses were investigated under non-isothermal conditions, applying the formal theory of transformations for heterogeneous nucleation to the experimental data obtained by DSC, using continuous-heating techniques. In addition, from the dependence of the glass-transition temperature (T _g) on heating rate, the activation energy for the glass transition was derived. Similarly, the activation energy of the crystallization process was determined and the crystallization mechanism characterized. The thermal stability of these glasses are considered in terms of the characteristic temperatures, T _g and T _in (the onset temperature of crystallization), via ΔT = T _in?T _g and a kinetic parameter K(T _g). The results confirm that thermal stability decreases with increasing BaO content. The phases into which the glass crystallizes have been identified by X-ray diffraction. Diffractograms of the transformed material indicate the presence of microcrystallites of α-TeO₂, γ-TeO₂ and BaTeO₃ in the remaining amorphous matrix.     

Scattering studies from polymer blends

An ultraquenching technique was used to prepare thin (ca. 1000 Å) amorphous films of polypivalolactone and poly(4-methyl-pentene-1). These films were characterized by electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Other ultraquenched films of these polymers were crystallized by annealing for various times in the vicinity of their glass transition temperatures. Electron microscopy and electron diffraction were used to follow the reorganization of their structures.

Evidence for a double T_g in polypivalolactone (PPVL) was found, with crystallization of annealed, ultraquenched films occurring just above T_g (L) = 270°K. A T_g (U) = 340°K was noted. When the disordered glass was annealed above T_g (L), polypivalolactone crystallized into the a crystal form, which is composed of antiparallel chain segments, suggesting a chain-folded crystallization mechanism.

Poly(4-methyl-pentene-1) (P4MP1) gave evidence for T_g (L) = 220°K and T_g (U) = 325°K by dynamic mechanical analysis. However, morphology and electron diffraction showed that significant crystallization of ultraquenched polymer did not occur until T_g (U) was reached. X-ray data also supported this conclusion, which is explained by the lower density of the crystal phase of P4MP1 (compared to amorphous material) below 320°K. Long-term annealing of films at T_g (U) resulted in the formation of single-crystal structures, again indicative of a mechanism of chain-folded crystallization from the glass.     

Glass transition behavior of binary GaxSe100−x (0?x?10) glass systems

The glass transition behavior of glassy Ga_xSe_100−x (x=0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10) systems were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The variation of glass transition temperature, T_g, with Ga concentration has been studied. The value of activation energy of glass transition, E_g, has been found to increase with increase in Ga content. This increase in E_g has been explained in terms of the average heat of atomization for these glasses.     

Surface and interface effects on structural transformation of vapor-deposited ethylbenzene films

We have investigated how the structures of vapor-deposited glassy films change with increasing temperature by using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and ion scattering spectroscopy. It is found that intermixing of the topmost layer of an ethylbenzene film occur at temperature (~ 80 K) considerably lower than the glass transition temperature (T_g = 118 K) when the film is deposited at 20 K. This phenomenon can be interpreted as the occurrence of a two-dimensional liquid that diffuses into pores of the film, which is evidenced from comparison with surface diffusivity measurements using a porous silicon layer. For nonporous films deposited at higher temperatures, the molecules intermix gradually prior to the abrupt film morphology change at T_g. This phenomenon can be interpreted as decoupling between translational diffusivity and viscosity in the bulk. The film thickness has no significant effects on the evolution of supercooled liquid at T_g except for the monolayer film, whereas crystallization is quenched for the films thinner than 8 monolayers. The roles of the 2D liquid on the surface and an immobilized layer formed at the interface are discussed in finite-size effects on the glass-liquid transition and crystallization.     

Comparative study of thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of 70B2O3-30Bi2O3 and 70B2O3-30PbO glasses

Glasses with compositions 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃ and 70B₂O₃-30PbO have been prepared and studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The crystallization kinetics of the glasses were investigated under non-isothermal conditions. From the dependence of glass-transition temperature (T_g) on heating rate, the activation energy for the glass transition was derived. Similarly the activation energy of the crystallization process was determined. Thermal stability of these glasses were achieved in terms of the characteristic temperatures, such as glass-transition temperature, T_g, onset temperature of crystallization, T_in, temperature corresponding to the maximum crystallization rate, T_p, beside the kinetic parameters, K(T_g) and K(T_p). The results revealed that 70B₂O₃-30PbO is more stable than 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃. The crystallization mechanism is characterized for both 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃ and 70B₂O₃-30PbO glasses (kinetic exponent n=2.06 for 70B₂O₃-30Bi₂O₃, and n=3.03 for 70B₂O₃-30PbO). The phases at which the glass crystallizes after the thermal process were identified by X-ray diffraction.     

Ellipsometry measurements of glass transition breadth in bulk films of random, block, and gradient copolymers

Bulk films of random, block and gradient copolymer systems were studied using ellipsometry to demonstrate the applicability of the numerical differentiation technique pioneered by Kawana and Jones for studying the glass transition temperature (T _g) behavior and thermal expansivities of copolymers possessing different architectures and different levels of nanoheterogeneity. In a series of styrene/n -butyl methacrylate (S/nBMA) random copolymers, T _g breadths were observed to increase from ～ 17^° C in styrene-rich cases to almost 30^° C in nBMA-rich cases, reflecting previous observations of significant nanoheterogeneity in PnBMA homopolymers. The derivative technique also revealed for the first time a substantial increase in glassy-state expansivity with increasing nBMA content in S/nBMA random copolymers, from 1.4×10^-4 K-1 in PS to 3.5×10^-4 K-1 in PnBMA. The first characterization of block copolymer T _g ’s and T _g breadths by ellipsometry is given, examining the impact of nanophase-segregated copolymer structure on ellipsometric measurements of glass transition. The results show that, while the technique is effective in detecting the two T _g ’s expected in certain block copolymer systems, the details of the glass transition can become suppressed in ellipsometry measurements of a rubbery minor phase under conditions where the matrix is glassy; meanwhile, both transitions are easily discernible by differential scanning calorimetry. Finally, broad glass transition regions were measured in gradient copolymers, yielding in some cases extraordinary T _g breadths of 69- 71^° C , factors of 4-5 larger than the T _g breadths of related homopolymers and random copolymers. Surprisingly, one gradient copolymer demonstrated a slightly narrower T _g breadth than the S/nBMA random copolymers with the highest nBMA content. This highlights the fact that nanoheterogeneity relevant to the glass transition response in selected statistical copolymers can be comparable to or exceed that observed in moderately phase-segregated gradient copolymers.     

Dielectric Measurements as a Function of Temperature of Sodium‐Lithium Phosphate Glasses Evaluated at 10 MHz and 9 GHz

Dielectric constant measurements can be performed at temperatures greater than room temperature; some techniques are shown in this work. The dielectric constant of phosphate glasses, measured in the X‐band microwave range, was determined using a microwave setup assembled to measure the shift in the standing wave pattern produced by the insertion of the sample inside the waveguide. The glass system 50P₂O₅ · 25Li₂O · 25Na₂O was chosen in this work due to its lower melting point and lower transition temperature (T_g) values. The dielectric constant of the glass studied in this work increases in the temperature range 25–330°C, as shown by the results at radio and microwave frequencies. The method of standing wave shift was applied, and it is shown to be a useful tool to estimate the T_g of glasses. This assumption was confirmed by differential thermal analysis technique. Measurements were compared to that at 10 MHz by impedancimetric methods.     

Development and characterisation of glass and glass ceramic sealants for solid oxide electrolyser cells

Glass and glass ceramic are now well known for their high performances as sealants operating around 800 °C in solid oxide electrolyser cell. Several new formulations have been prepared and investigated: silica alkali borosilicate glass formulations that will create a glass sealant and calcium aluminosilicate formulations that will create a glass ceramic sealant. Thermal and physicochemical properties of several glasses and glass ceramics along with the crystallisation behaviour were investigated. The glass transition temperatures (T _g) of the prepared glasses were found to be within the range of 600–730 °C. Shrinkage, sintering, softening, deformation and crystallisation temperatures of the parent glasses have been measured by hot stage microscopy. Microstructure and chemical composition of crystalline phases have been investigated using microprobe analysis. Bonding characteristics as well as chemical interactions of the parent glasses with yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ®) electrolyte and high chromium steel-based interconnect (Crofer®) have also been studied.     

Elastic moduli and theoretical estimations of physical properties of Ge3Se7–As2Te3

The Bulk (100-x)Ge₃Se₇ - (x)As₂Te₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 30) glassy alloys were prepared using the melt quenching technique. The elastic moduli (Bulk (K), Micro-hardness (H), Young (Y)), and Poisson's ratio (P_r) of the prepared glasses have been determined using the measured values of the ultrasonic velocities and density (ρ). Values of ρ were measured, then the molar volume (V_m) was estimated theoretically. The DSC thermograms are used to determine the glass transition temperature (T_g). The thermal evaporation method was used to prepare the (100-x)Ge₃Se₇- (x)As₂Te₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 30) thin films under a vacuum of about 10⁻⁴Pa. The absorbance (A) of the films in the spectral range from 0.45 to 0.85 μm has been measured, then the absorption coefficient (α) and energy gap (E_g) were determined. The Chemical Bond Approach (CBA) has been used successfully to estimate theoretically various physical and structural characteristics of the studied system. Theoretical values of E_g and T_g have been obtained using different methods. The results proved a remarkable agreement between the theoretical and experimental values for both the E_g and T_g. The E_g values decreased from 2.1 to 1.73 eV by increasing the As₂Te₃ content from 0 to 30 at. %. Therefore, these compounds can be used as an absorbing layer for electromagnetic radiation in photovoltaic devices and sensors.     

Dielectric and thermal features of zinc ion conducting gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) containing PVC / PEMA blend and EMIMTFSI ionic liquid

A new series of gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) based on an optimized composition of polymer blend-salt matrix [poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) (30 wt%) / poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) (70 wt%): 30 wt% zinc triflate Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂] containing different concentrations of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (EMIMTFSI) ionic liquid has been prepared by simple solution casting technique. The prepared films of gel polymer membranes have been characterized utilizing complex impedance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) analyses. The dielectric constant and ionic conductivity pursue similar trend with increasing EMIMTFSI concentration. The addition of ionic liquid in varied amounts into the optimized polymer blend-salt system effectively reduces the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the film as revealed from differential scanning calorimetry results. The origin of an improved thermal stability and feasible cyclic performance in respect of the best conducting sample of the resultant gel polymer electrolytes was also examined by utilizing thermogravimetric and cyclic voltammetry measurements.     

Molecular dynamics study of structural evolution of aluminum during rapid quenching under different pressures

We present a molecular dynamics simulation for liquid Al during the rapid quenching under different pressures. The pair analysis technique and the probabilities of bond energy distribution of inherent structures have been employed to reveal the structural characteristics of liquid and glassy Al. During the liquid-glass quenching process, the bond pairs representing the degree of icosahedral short-range ordering are largely enhanced, whereas the bond pairs being related to fcc and hcp crystalline order increase at first then decrease. The pressure effect on various bond pairs for liquids is larger than for glasses. Two kinds of bond pairs, which exist in large proportion in the amorphous, are demonstrated for the transformation from 1431 to 1541 bond pairs when decreasing temperature or increasing pressure below glass transformation temperature (T_g). Although the sum of these two pairs keeps unchanged below T_g, the role of them is like a bridge which links another two different kinds of bonded pairs, icosahedral ordering and crystalline ordering pairs.     

Influence of the selenium content on thermo-mechanical and optical properties of Ge–Ga–Sb–S chalcogenide glasses

A number of Ge₁₇Ga₄Sb₁₀S_69−xSe_x (x = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 69) chalcogenide glasses have been synthesized by a melt-quenching method to investigate the effect of the Se content on thermo-mechanical and optical properties of these glasses. While it was found that the glass transition temperature (T_g) decreases from 261 to 174 °C with increasing Se contents, crystallization temperature (T_c) peak only be observed in glasses with Se content of x = 45. It was evident from the measurements of structural and physical properties that changes of the glass network bring an apparent impact on the glass properties. Also, the substitution of Se for S in Ge–Ga–Sb glasses can significantly improve the thermal stability against crystallization and broaden the infrared transmission region.     

A comparative study on the glass-forming ability of some alloys in the Sb-As-Se system by differential scanning calorimetry

The glass-forming ability and devitrification of alloys in the Sb-As-Se system have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A comparison of various simple quantitative methods to assess the level of stability of glassy materials in the above-mentioned system is presented. All these methods are based on the characteristic temperatures, obtained by heating of the samples in non-isothermal regime, such as the glass transition temperature, T_g, the temperature at which crystallization begins, T_in, the temperature corresponding to the maximum crystallization rate, T_p, or the melting temperature, T_m. In this work, a kinetic parameter K_r(T) is added to the stability criteria. The thermal stability of some ternary compounds of Sb_xAs_{0.60−(2x+y)}Se_0.40+x+y-type has been evaluated experimentally and correlated with the activation energies of crystallization by this kinetic criterion and compared with those evaluated by other criteria.     

Thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of Ge–Se–Cd glasses

The effect is reported of varying cadmium concentration on the glass transition, thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of Ge₂₀Se_{80? x} Cd _x (x = 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 at. %) glasses. Differential scanning calorimetry results under non-isothermal conditions for the studied glasses are reported and discussed. The values of the glass transition temperature (T_g ) and the peak temperature of crystallization (T_p ) were found to be dependent on heating rate and Cd content. From the heating rate dependence of T_g and T_p , the values of the activation energy for glass transition (E_g ) and the activation energy for crystallization (E_c ) were evaluated and their composition dependence discussed. The thermal stability of the glasses was evaluated using various thermal stability criteria such as ΔT, H_g and S. The stability calculations emphasize that the thermal stability decreases with increasing Cd content.