Dynamics of glassy clusters appearing by nonlinear dielectric effect studies

Preliminary results of time-resolved nonlinear dielectric effect (NDE) stud ies in the liquid, glassforming epoxy resin EPON 5 are presented. For all t ested temperatures the NDE response of the sample parametrizes the stretche d exponential function with exponent beta = 0.38 +/- 0.05. The temperature evolution of relaxation times can be parametrized by means of the Vogel-Ful cher-Tammann function tau(NDE)=tau(0)(NDE)exp(D(NDE)tau(0)(NDE)/T-T-0(NDE)) , with tau(0)(NDE) approximate to 0.3s, D(E)approximate to 1.2 and T(0)(ND E)approximate to 261K. The latter value is, within the limit of the experim ental error, equal to the glass temperature T-g. The relaxation of "nonline ar" changes of the dielectric permittivity induced by a strong, steady elec tric field may be associated with the dynamic equilibrium of glassy cluster s and the surrounding fluidlike region.