Kinetics of vitrification under electric fields

The influence of electric fields on the kinetics of vitrification was considered using the formalism of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes and the model of the activated complex. Expressions for the dependence of the glass transition temperature on cooling rate (under constant electric fields) and for the field strength at which the system vitrifies on the rate of change of field strength (at constant temperature) were derived. It was shown that, in general, the glass transition temperature is lowered when an electric field is applied to an undercooled melt. The formalism derived can be used to describe vitrification kinetics when the liquid is subjected to magnetic fields. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.