Mechanical properties of uniaxially oriented syndiotactic polystyrene

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 2335 - 2344
• Main Authors: YAN, R. J, AJJI, A, SHINOZAKI, D. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 15.05.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amorphous materials; Anisotropy; Applied sciences; Block copolymers; Crystallization; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber composites; Glass transition temperature; Hot drawing; Materials science; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polystyrene resins; Properties and characterization; Syndiotacticity; Yield criteria; Hot drawing; Oriented polymer; Anisotropy; Optical properties; Mechanical properties; Birefringence; Styrene polymer; Property structure relationship; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Syndiotactic polymer
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1004590011078

Syndiotactic polystyrene has been oriented by uniaxially drawing at temperatures near the glass transition temperature, starting with amorphous material produced by quenching from the melt. The hot drawing process involves concurrent crystallization and orientation. Increasing crystallinity by itself does not affect the mechanical properties to any large extent. The orientation process is shown to substantially increase the strength and modulus in the draw direction. The anisotropy of mechanical properties is compared to mathematical models: the modulus using Arridge's model for oriented block copolymers, and the tensile strength using both the Hill-von Mises yield criterion and a modified fiber composite analog.