Lecture
This lecture covers the glassy state in polymers, discussing the frozen ideal chain conformations and the Free Volume model. It also explores the relationship between the chemical structure of polymers and their glass transition temperature. The presentation delves into the amorphous state, polymer conformations, relaxation processes, and the unique energy dissipation mechanisms in polymer glasses. Additionally, it explains the concept of the glass transition temperature, its dependence on cooling rate, and the out-of-equilibrium nature of the glassy state. The lecture further examines factors impacting Tg, such as chain rigidity, plasticization, molecular weight, and cross-linking. It concludes with an overview of glass transition temperatures in linear polymers and the learning outcomes related to polymer interactions and Tg determination.