Glass transition temperature variation, cross-linking and structure in network glasses

Abstract

We give general topological rules which very accurately predict the chemical trends in glass transition temperature $T_g$ variation as a function of cross-linking. In multicomponent glasses, these chemical trends permit to distinguish homogeneous compositions (random network) from inhomogeneous ones (local phase separation). The stochastic origin of the Gibbs-Di Marzio equation is predicted at low connectivity and the analytical expression of its parameter emerges naturally from the calculation.