Plasticity of semi-crystalline polymers

Finally, we describe the results of an extensive micromechanical model of plastic flow in bulk HDPE from an initial unstrained state to large plastic strains and compare the predictions of the model with experimental results. 

For a more direct demonstration of the role of crystal dislocations in plastic deformation Petermann and Gleiter (1973) examined by TEM PE lamellae deformed by impingement of slip lines in underlying Cu crystals by deposition of a carbon replica film onto the deformed PE lamellae, to stabilize them prior to 

In Section 9.3 we present experimental studies of plastic deformation in two semi-crystalline polymers, HDPE and Nylon-6, both in tension and in plane-strain compression flow, from initial spherulitic morphologies to large plastic strains. In these studies, the evolving morphological alterations were monitored closely by a complementary array of techniques involving light microscopy and X-ray diffraction and scattering both in the crystalline and in the amorphous components. 

In Section 9.4 we present analyses of nucleation of both edge- and screw-dislocation half loops from edges and surfaces of lamellae in spherulites under stress in PE samples with a wide range of lamella thicknesses and compare the predictions with the plastic deformation rate. 

Finally, in Section 9.5 we discuss the results of an extensive computer-simulation study of plastic flow in HDPE over a range of large plastic strains and compare them with results from closely linked experiments. 

---

Suggested further reading on plasticity of semi-crystalline polymers... 

Seguela R (2007) Plasticity of semi-crystalline polymer Crystal slip versus melting-recrystallization, e-Polymers 032 1-20. 

---