Investigation of thermal properties of the Ge–As–Se glasses by differential scanning calorimetry with heat flow harmonic modulation

Abstract Thermal properties of the Ge x As y Se 100 − x − y glasses have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry with harmonic temperature modulation. The temperature changes of the reverse and non-reverse components of the heat flow in these materials have been analyzed. The concentration dependences of the enthalpy of relaxation, activation energy of viscous softening and the increase of heat capacity in the softening range with average coordination numbers Z = 2.12–2.72 have been obtained. It has been shown that the essential changes of thermodynamic parameters of glasses under study are caused by their structural transition. Correlations between the nature of changes of thermal characteristics of the Ge x As y Se 100 − x − y glasses and the features of their mechanical relaxation have been determined.