Reversible atomic processes as basic mechanisms of the glass transition.
Reversible formation and disappearance of vacant spaces (vacancy-type defects) in bulk Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Nb5Al10 glass are directly evidenced by high-resolution, time-differential dilatometry studies. The vacancy kinetics are strongly temperature-dependent, with an effective migration enthalpy of HVM=3.34 eV. This may explain the strong temperature dependence of glass properties such as viscosity. The results presented here are of general importance for understanding amorphous condensed matter and biomaterials and for the technical development of amorphous steels.
Ye
Feng
F
Institut für Theoretische und Angewandte Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. yefeng@skl.ustb.edu.cn
Sprengel
Wolfgang
W
Wunderlich
Rainer K
RK
Fecht
Hans-Jörg
HJ
Schaefer
Hans-Eckhardt
HE