Topologically induced glass transition in dense polymer systems

摘要

The glass transition in hard core polymer systems is analyzed by a Monte Carlo simulation. The method used is based on a novel continuous fluctuating bond method, which allows for the comparison with well-known liquids of spherical hard core particles. It is demonstrated that the glass transition of hard core polymers is a prevented first-order phase transition due to the bonds of the polymer chains (topological restrictions). The characteristic slow down of the molecular dynamics is a result of the formation of locally ordered structures. Furthermore, the characteristically temperature-dependent alpha and beta processes and an additional strongly localized and very fast process are detected. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)52406-4]. [References: 61]