Determination of the parameters of the reticulate structure of amorphous linear polymers subjected to orientational stretching

Abstract

As a result of interlacing the macromolecules in linear block polymers form a sort of molecular network. The structure of this network affects the strength characteristics of oriented amorphous linear polymers in the brittle state. An important characteristic of the reticulate structure is the number of network chains per unit volume. The literature describes a method of determining this quantity based on the degree of stretching and the stress developed during stretching of the softened polymer. This method is not sufficiently accurate, since it disregards the presence in linear pclymers of network nodes of different stability. The proposed method of calculating this quantity is based on an analysis of the "equilibrium contraction" curves and takes into account the relaxation processes in the polymers. It is more accurate than that previously employed.