Studies on straining of high polymer solids

Straining of high polymer solids is experimentally investigated from the standpoint of internal molecular structure. The test specimens used are epoxy cast resins as network polymers and hard polyvinylchloride as linear polymers. The experiment is mainly performed in compression. It is proved that the straining of network polymers is due solely to intramolecular micro‐Brownian motion, named “deformation strain,” and is not true plastic strain, even though strain may be frozen by secondary bonding forces at room temperatures. On the other hand, intermolecular macro‐Brownian motion, named “flow strain,” is further added for the straining of linear polymers. The mutual relations between flow strain and deformation strain on hard polyvinyl chloride are examined under various conditions, such as working and annealing temperature, magnitude of worked strain, rate of strain, etc. The plastic working ability of high polymer solids is discussed in relation to working temperature.