Rate process analysis applied to the mechanical behavior of glassy bisphenol‐A‐polycarbonate

The mechanical behavior of bisphenol‐A‐polycarbonate has been studied. The principle mode of deformation studied was fatigue with monotonic tests and stress relaxation tests also performed. Testing was conducted at different strain rates and polycarbonate was found to be a rate sensitive material. In addition, it was found that polycarbonate's data show a good fit to the rate process theory of deformation first proposed by Eyring, whereby molecules move over a potential barrier in an activated process. A hard ball model is presented as a first approximation to this activated process of deformation. Finally, a potential mechanism of deformation during fatigue loading is discussed.