[en] We present relaxations of the heat capacity of the n-alkane n-eicosane (C20H42) in the metastable rotator phase. These relaxations are not connected to melting but rather to structural changes. A comparative study of the relaxation times with calorimetry in the time and frequency domain shows a slowing down of the dynamics on approaching the melting temperature of the rotator phase. Relaxation behaviour is also observed in the lattice structure by investigations with X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the angular position of the two most relevant X-ray lines relaxes on different time scales. One of these two relaxations can be related to the relaxations found in calorimetry. The relaxing behaviour is discussed in the framework of conformational defect formation and compared to known phenomena in literature.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
DI GIAMBATTISTA, Carlo ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Language :
English
Title :
Structural Relaxations in the Rotator Phase of N-Eicosane
Defense date :
11 March 2015
Number of pages :
143
Institution :
Unilu - University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
