Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.39, No.5, 833-840, 1999
Optical and acoustical investigation for plastic deformation of isotactic polypropylene/ethylene-1-hexene copolymer blends
The effects of morphology on mechanism of plastic deformation are investigated for binary blends of isotactic polypropylene and rubbery ethylene-1-hexene copolymers. In this work, plastic deformation developed during elongation is investigated by measuring light transmittance, electron microscopy, and ultrasonic propagation in the temperature region between 298 K and 353 K. It is found that the compatible blends hardly show stress-whitening at any temperature, whereas the incompatible blends show distinct stress-whitening below 333 K. Furthermore, microscopic defects such as microvoids and crystalline defects are found to be precursors for crazing which are origin of the stress-whitening.
Keywords:LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE;ALPHA-OLEFIN COPOLYMER;BINARYBLENDS;OSCILLATORY DEFORMATION;ULTRASONIC VELOCITY;POLYMERICSOLIDS;PROPYLENE COPOLYMERS;POLYPROPYLENE;MISCIBILITY;CRYSTALLIZATION