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Physical Aging in Thin Polymer Films

 

Using Monte Carlo and molecular
dynamics simulations, we have investigated the dynamics of a model
glass-forming polymer undergoing physical aging confined to a free-standing
thin film. When a glass-forming material is cooled below its glass transition temperature
Tg it falls
out of equilibrium, and its physical properties (internal energy, dynamic
properties) will gradually evolve towards their equilibrium values in a process
known as physical aging. We have found that in free-standing thin films of
polymer glasses, which have a Tg reduced
from the bulk polymer, the free surface can rapidly reach equilibrium while
material that is only approximately 10 nm from the surface exhibits a bulk-like
equilibration process.

Physical Aging in Thin Polymer Films