The growth of shear bands in polystyrene

Shear‐band growth velocities have been determined as a function of stress and temperature in polystyrene. The results demonstrate that shear bands can propagate under isothermal conditions; an adiabatic temperature rise at the shear band tip is not necessary for continued localization and growth of the band. The velocity is stress activated with a shear activation volume of 4600 Å3 and thermally activated with an activation enthalpy of 2.8 eV. Comparison of these values of the activation parameters with those for bulk shear flow in polystyrene indicates that the shear band propagation is controlled by the plastic strain rate of the glassy polymer immediately ahead of the tip of the band. Argon's molecular kink model of the elemental deformation process is consistent with measured values of the activation parameters whereas Bowden and Raha's dislocation model is not. The shear bands grow at an angle of ca. 38° to the axis of compression, and if the direction of compression is altered, the shear bands will change direction so as to maintain the 38° angle. Current explanations can not quantitatively account for the large deviation of the shear bands from the 45° plane of maximum shear stress.