Chain-Length-Dependent Relaxation Scenarios in an Oligomeric Glass-Forming System: From Merged to Well-Separated $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ Loss Peaks

Chain-Length-Dependent Relaxation Scenarios in an Oligomeric Glass-Forming System: From Merged to Well-Separated $α$ and $β$ Loss Peaks

J. Mattsson, R. Bergman, P. Jacobsson, and L. Börjesson

Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 075702 – Published 21 February 2003

Abstract

We have studied the relaxation dynamics of a homologous series of propylene glycol based dimethyl ethers in the supercooled regime by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The system is chosen in order to minimize changes of the intermolecular interactions with varying molecular weight, $M$ . A gradual transformation from a scenario of well-separated to one of merged $α$ and $β$ loss peaks was observed with decreasing $M$ . The results give strong evidence for the currently debated excess wing being due to an underlying $β$ relaxation. The study suggests that the main difference between glass formers with and without excess wings is the relaxation time at the merging temperature.

Received 19 October 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.075702

Authors & Affiliations

J. Mattsson^1,*, R. Bergman¹, P. Jacobsson¹, and L. Börjesson²

¹Department of Experimental Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
²Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden

^*Electronic address: johanm@fy.chalmers.se

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Vol. 90, Iss. 7 — 21 February 2003

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Physical Review Letters

Chain-Length-Dependent Relaxation Scenarios in an Oligomeric Glass-Forming System: From Merged to Well-Separated α and β Loss Peaks

J. Mattsson, R. Bergman, P. Jacobsson, and L. Börjesson

Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 075702 – Published 21 February 2003

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Chain-Length-Dependent Relaxation Scenarios in an Oligomeric Glass-Forming System: From Merged to Well-Separated $α$ and $β$ Loss Peaks