New features of the glass transition revealed by the StepScan® DSC
The results of StepScan DSC obtained for various oxides, chalcogenides, and organic glasses are discussed in connection with the commonly accepted theory of the glass transition. The new experimental features supporting the apparent idea of a reversible equilibrium being a part of the glass transition that is commonly interpreted as purely kinetic-relaxation phenomenon are discussed. Two alternative methods of the description of the reversible part of StepScan DSC record are compared:the empirical one using the exponential-power function [1 − exp(T/T
g)
 n
 ], and the second one based on the van’t Hoff’s equation describing the temperature dependence of equilibrium constant in terms of reaction enthalpy, ΔH. The adequacy of the empirical description is rationalized in the framework of the Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan’s relaxation theory.