Composition dependence of thermo-dynamical and thermo-mechanical properties in SeTeSnGe Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs)

In this endeavor, we have synthesized novel quaternary glassy Se78-xTe20Sn2Gex(0 <= x <= 6) alloys by the well-known rapid cooling of melt under quenching technique, to study the effect of Germanium on thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical properties. In particular, we employed Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique for the investigation of thermodynamic parameters (e.g., specific heatC(p)and enthalpy Delta H) in the glass-transition-region (GTR). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) experiment was run under non-isothermal conditions. The thermo-mechanical parameters i.e., micro-hardness, micro-void volume, the energy of creation of micro-void, elasticity, density, compactness, and molar volume are also calculated. It was observed that there is a large increment inC(p)values in the GTR. Further analysis shows that theC(p)values above the GTR (i.e.,C-p = C(pe)equilibrium specific heat) and below the GTR (i.e.,C-p = C(pg)glass specific heat) are vastly composition dependent. The increment in specific heat value after Ge incorporation is explained in terms of molar volume.