Relationships between Polymer Structure and Glass Temperature. I. The n-Alkanes

Abstract

The constants in the empirical equation $\log \mathrm{(\eta /d)=}\log {\mathrm{A+B/(T-T}}_0)$ were evaluated from published viscosities η and densities d for 23 n‐alkanes. All three adjustable parameters A, B, and T₀ were found to vary with chain length. The parameter T₀ is predicted with good precision by the Gibbs—DiMarzio theory of the glass transition with a ``flex energy'' ε of 490.8 cal/mole. This value is in agreement with determinations by other methods.