Thermodynamic aspects of the glass transition of silicates

The marked increase in second-order thermodynamic properties observed at the glass-transition signals the onset of configurational changes in viscous liquids. Experimental determinations in the glass-transition range will illustrate this point for thermal expansivity and demonstrate that the kinetics of volume, enthalpy and structural relaxation are identical for silicate liquids. Within the framework of the Adam-Gibbs theory, heat capacity and viscosity data may be combined to calculate configurational entropies and gain insights into the potential energy barrier to viscous flow. Finally, the considerable effect of water on the glass transition temperature of geologically relevant silicates is presented. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.