The anisotropy of creep behavior in oriented thermoplastics

Abstract

Detailed studies have been carried out on the anisotropy of creep and creep rupture behavior of thermoplastics oriented by the imposition of a large permanent deformation. This deformation is usually such as to produce simple fiber symmetry within the specimen. Experimental techniques have been devised for the accurate measurement of all three principal strains during tensile creep on small samples which are cut from the oriented specimens at various angles to the symmetry axis. In this way a full characterization of the creep behavior up to strains of 5 percent has been obtained at room temperature.Results are presented for work on rigid poly (vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), and low density polyethylene. The results are discussed in terms of the time dependence and nonlinearity of the anisotropy. Creep rupture results on similar specimens are also presented and discussed. Anisotropy due to orientation is shown to be important in determining engineering properties and in understanding structure‐properties relationships.