Anomalies of Glass Transition: Manifestation in fullerene core polystyrene stars

Segmental dynamics around T_g in the 4- and 6-arm fullerene (C₆₀) core star-like polystyrenes with different preset arm lengths was studied by DSC as compared to that in the linear PS and PS/C₆₀ blend. The anomalies in glass transition behavior were found for the stars including both suppression and facilitation of segmental motion, and pronounced dynamic heterogeneity within a transition range. The results are interpreted in terms of breakdown of intermolecular cooperativity of segmental motions and PS-C₆₀ interactions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.