Glass Transition Theory

The Glass Transition Theory explains how certain materials, like glass or plastics, change from a hard, brittle state to a softer, more flexible one as temperature increases. Unlike melting, this transition isn’t abrupt; instead, the material gradually loses its rigidity over a range of temperatures. This phenomenon occurs because the molecules gain enough energy to move more freely, but without forming a new liquid phase. The glass transition temperature (Tg) marks the point where these significant changes in properties happen, crucial for understanding how materials behave under different temperature conditions in applications.