Exoemission of polymers induced by deformation and fracture: High density polyethylene

The deformation‐induced exoemission of high density polyethylene stressed uniaxially is a true, intrinsic polymer property, i.e., not resulting from other experimental parameters, e.g., atmospheric gases, adsorbed layers, surface charges, and other extrinsic influences. The processes which originate tribostimulated exoemission are irreversible and depend strongly on the deformation ratio. The occurrence of exoemission is correlated with molecular fracture processes. The energy distribution of the emitted negatively charged particles exhibits a narrow maximum in the range of 5 to 15 eV (8·10 −19 to 24·10 −19 J).