Plasticity of Oriented Glassy Polymers

Abstract

The stress‐strain properties of uniaxially oriented, glassy polycarbonate and polyphenylene oxide were measured in shear vs the angle between the shear plane and the orientation axis. The results are interpreted in terms of a model that emphasizes the microscopic graininess of glassy polymers. It is concluded that at least four of the five independent slip systems required for a general deformation of each grain involve kinking and the flexing of bonds. This confirms the importance of bond flexing in the plasticity of glassy polymers, as was assumed in a recently proposed theory.