The influence of anisotropic phase structure on the properties of crystalline polymers

By combining quantitative molecular, microscopic and macroscopic information from an oriented crystalline polymer, it becomes possible to unify, predict, and explain not only processing behavior but such important material properties as failure, shrinkage, modulus, yielding, melting, and storage and loss moduli. Among the advantages gained by this approach are the ability to: (a) identify the particular phase of the two‐phase system which controls a given property‐(b) correlate internal structure quantitatively with a large number of seemingly different types of properties; (c) identify quantitative behavioral rules which are generally valid for Very different crystalline polymers; (d) clarify component roles such that new techniques and processes result; and (e) predict the properties of a crystalline polymer for structural states not previously tested. Using two dissimilar crystalline polymers, isotactic polypropylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate), as examples, the general validity and unifying power of the structural approaches is demonstrated.