This article is cited in 83 papers

REVIEWS OF TOPICAL PROBLEMS

Modern aspects of the kinetic theory of glass transition

T. V. Tropin^a, J. W. P. Schmelzer^bc, V. L. Aksenov<sup>ad

a</sup> Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics
^b Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics
^c Institute of Physics, University of Rostock
^d National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute

Abstract: This paper reviews glass transition kinetics models that are developed to describe the formation of structural (for example, covalent and metallic) glasses, as well as to account for the transition of a polymer to a solid glassy state. As the two approaches most frequently used over the last decade to model the glass transition, the Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan model and the Adam–Gibbs theory of glass transition are described together with examples of their applications. Also discussed are entropy-based approaches that rely on irreversible thermodynamics methods originated in the work of De Donder, Mandelstam, and Leontovich. The actual problems that arise in applying these methods and the prospects of their development are discussed. A brief overview of statistical glass transition models is given, including the mode-coupling and energy-landscape theories.

Keywords: glass transition, kinetics of glass transition, polymer glass transition, theory and modeling of glass transition, thermal properties of amorphous solids and glasses.

PACS: 61.43.Fs, 64.70.kj, 64.70.Q-

Received: July 17, 2015
Revised: October 8, 2015
Accepted: October 10, 2015

DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0186.201601c.0047

 English version: Physics–Uspekhi, 2016, 59:1, 42–66

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