Molecular Theory of Physical Aging in Polymer Glasses

Kang Chen and Kenneth S. Schweizer
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 167802 – Published 20 April 2007

Abstract

A molecular level theory for the physical aging of polymer glasses is proposed. The nonequilibrium time evolution of the amplitude of long wavelength density fluctuations, and its influence on activated barrier hopping, plays an essential role. The theory predicts temperature-dependent apparent power-law aging of the segmental relaxation time and logarithmic aging of thermodynamiclike properties, in good accord with experiments. A physical origin for the quantitative nonuniversal aspects based on the amplitude of quenched density fluctuations is suggested.

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  • Received 25 January 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.167802

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Kang Chen and Kenneth S. Schweizer*

  • Department of Materials Science, University of Illinois, 1304 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA

  • *Electronic address: kschweiz@uiuc.edu

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Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 16 — 20 April 2007

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