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The role of crystallite dimensions in mechanical and diffusion characteristics of uniaxially oriented polymers
Author(s) -
Prevorsek D. C.,
Sharma R. K.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760141108
Subject(s) - crystallite , materials science , polymer , isotropy , composite material , anisotropy , modulus , amorphous solid , diffusion , crystallography , thermodynamics , optics , chemistry , physics , metallurgy
Electron microscopy studies indicate that the microfibrils are a well defined element of many uniaxially oriented polymers. On the basis of these results it was inferred that the mechanical responses of uniaxially oriented polymers are similar to those of a parallel ensemble of the microfibrils. An important consequence of this microfibrillar model is that the type of load transfer is independent of crystallite aspect (length/diameter) ratio. The analysis of anisotropy in modulus of uniaxially oriented nylon 6, however, indicates that the load transfer characteristics of these polymers are dependent on crystallite dimension. A series response is observed only with fibers or films of low and intermediate draw ratio. Highly oriented structures, however, exhibit a nearly isotropic response in load transfer. These results show that uniaxial polymers must be analyzed in terms of a model where the crystallites are embedded in an “amorphous” matrix. The equations are derived for modulus, strength, and coefficient of diffusion in terms of crystallite dimensions, and the results compared with the experimental data.