On the theory of thermal density fluctuations in the glassy state: Application to poly(vinyl acetate)

A theory of the liquid state, suitably modified for the glass, contains a characteristic structure functionh, which represents a free volume fraction. As shown previously by means of experimental pressure-volume-temperature studies,h retains finite, nonvanishing temperature and pressure coefficients upon passing through the glass transition. These results are now employed to compute the mean-square thermal density fluctuations in poly(vinyl acetate). AboveT_g, the result attests again to the satisfactory quantitative performance of the equilibrium theory. BelowT_g, two glasses formed at low and elevated pressures, respectively, are considered under quasi-equilibrium conditions. The results show the anticipated initial accord with the approximation proposed by Fischer and Wendorff, involving the isothermal compressibility of the liquid atT_g. The theory delineates the increasing departures with decreasing temperature observed in the literature. We comment finally on the trend of the fluctuations on approaching absolute zero. Explicit low temperature calculations remain to be undertaken.Dedicated to Professor Dr. F. H. Müller.