Crystallites mechanical properties

According to Hosemann-Bonart s model8), an oriented polymeric material consists of plate-like more or less curved folded lamellae extended mostly in the direction normal to that of the sample orientation so that the chain orientation in these crystalline formations coincides with the stretching direction. These lamellae are connected with each other by some amount of tie chains, but most chains emerge from the crystal bend and return to the same crystal-forming folds. If this model adequately describes the structure of oriented systems, the mechanical properties in the longitudinal direction are expected to be mainly determined by the number and properties of tie chains in the amorphous regions that are the weak spots of the oriented system (as compared to the crystallite)9). 

The morphology of the crystallite structures present is also important in determining the mechanical properties. 

The behavior of polycrystalline materials is often dominated by the boundaries between the crystallites, called grain boundaries. In metals, grain boundaries prevent dislocation motion and reduce the ductility, leading to hard and brittle mechanical properties. Grain boundaries are invariably weaker than the crystal matrix, and... 

In addition to not offering properties expected for phase pure SiC, the original Yajima process suffers from other drawbacks that include a multistep precursor synthesis and the inability to self-cure. Finally, the presence of oxygen limits the upper use temperature for both Nicalon and Tyranno fibers to ca 1200 °C because above this temperature CO and SiO gases evolve, generating defects (large crystallites, pores and voids) that contribute to substantial decreases in mechanical properties. 

The mechanical properties of pressure-crystallised polymers are disappointing, indeed they are very poor The main disadvantage of pressure crystallisation is that it results in a quasi-isotropic brittle product, a mosaic of randomly oriented crystallites without much interconnection. 

The concept Tie molecules" was introduced by Peterlin (1973), see Chap. 2. Tie molecules are part of chains or bundles of chains extending from one crystallite (or plate or lamella) to another in fibres they even constitute the core of the stretched filament. They concentrate and distribute stresses throughout the material and are therefore particularly important for the mechanical properties of semi-crystalline polymers. Small amounts of taut tie molecules may give a tremendous increase in strength and a decrease in brittleness of polymeric materials. 

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