Glass transition: a new approach based on cluster model of glasses

Abstract

The structure of real glasses has been considered to be microheterogeneous, composed of clusters and connective tissue. Particles in the cluster are assumed to be highly correlated in positions. The tissue is considered to have a truly amorphous structure with its particles vibrating in highly anharmonic potentials. Glass transition is recognized as corresponding to the melting of clusters. A simple mathematical model has been developed which accounts for various known features associated with glass transition, such as range of glass transition temperature,T _g, variation of T _g with pressure, etc. Expressions for configurational thermodynamic properties and transport properties of glass forming systems are derived from the model. The relevence and limitations of the model are also discussed.