Volume and enthalpy relaxation of a-Se in the glass transition region

Volume and enthalpy relaxation studies of amorphous Se have been performed in the glass transition region by mercury dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry. For simple temperature jump experiments, as well as for more complex thermal history the volume and enthalpy relaxation data can be described by a single set of kinetic parameters for Tool-Naraynaswamy-Moynihan (TNM) model [Δh∗/R = 42.8 kK, ln(ATNM/s) = −133]. Slightly different non-linearity and non-exponentiality parameter were found for volume [x = 0.42, β = 0.58] and enthalpy [x = 0.52, β = 0.65] relaxation data. Similar results were obtained also for Adam-Gibbs-Scherer (AGS) model. The activation energy of viscous flow in the glass transition range is identical with the effective activation energy for relaxation process. A self-consistent data evaluation shows that at moderate departure from equilibrium, volume and enthalpy in amorphous selenium relax in the same way as expressed by TNM and AGS models. Both volume and enthalpy change can be interpreted within the same fictive temperature concept.