Simple rules for the prediction of the value of the glass transition temperature in network glasses

Abstract

We give in this letter a set of general rules which allow the prediction of the value of the glass transition temperature $T_g$ in network glasses. Starting from the Gibbs-Di Marzio law which gives a very general relationship between this temperature and the average coordination number of a system, we explain how to compute from the valencies of the atoms of the glass, the parameter $β$ used in this law. We check the validity of the obtained expressiosn and show that it is possible to predict the glass transition temperature for any composition in multicomponent chalcogenide glasses. The possibility of existence of a demixed structure is also discussed.