The glass transition temperature
(T
g) is an important material parameter
in determining polymer properties.
The main molecular structure factors affecting T
g are chain stiffness and cohesive energy, causing polymers
to exhibit the complex micro-structure dependence of T
g. The composition dependence of the T
gs of binary random copolymers mainly shows as three cases:
the linear relation, the negative deviation (or concave curve), or
the positive deviation (convex curve). The study of the T
g’s composition dependence can guide the design
of copolymer materials with desirable properties. On the other hand,
it can provide insights into understanding the precise nature of the
glass transition. In this study, the root cause of the T
g deviation from the linear relation in random copolymers
was revealed, and new molecular origins were proposed. First, the
theoretical basis of why there exists a linear T
g relation for copolymers was clarified, and the influence
of the specific polar interactions between components was discussed
briefly. More importantly, it has been identified that the negative T
g deviation is related to copolymers composed
of the mono-substituted (M-type) monomer and asymmetrical di-substituted
(AD-type) monomer, and the positive T
g deviation is related to copolymers composed of the M-type monomer
and symmetrical di-substituted (SD-type) monomer. The molecular origin
of the T
g deviations from the linear relation
is the destruction of the special conformational structures (e.g.,
the locally rigid conformational structure in the AD-type homopolymer
or the dynamic flexible structure in the SD-type homopolymer) caused
by copolymerization. The behaviors for more complex binary copolymers
(AD–AD, SD–SD, and AD–SD types) were also discussed.
Finally, the variation in T
g of a statistical
copolymer as a function of composition was summarized.