DEFECT PRODUCTION AND ANNIHILATION NEAR EQUILIBRIUM IN AMORPHOUS PD40NI40P20 INVESTIGATED FROM VISCOSITY DATA

The viscosity of amorphous Pd40Ni40P20 has been measured at temperatures near the glass transition temperature. The results of these measurements were analyzed in terms of the free volume model to find equations for defect production and annihilation during structural relaxation. It was shown that it is not possible to find these equations from viscosity data alone. A description of the viscosity data together with the thermal effects observed in a DSC was, however, more successful in determining the defect relaxation equation. The viscosity data were used to accurately determine the parameters of the kinetic process and the equilibrium defect concentration. The DSC data were used to discriminate between different relaxation equations.