ISSN:
0032-3888
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Chemical Engineering
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
The breaking strength, strain at break, and work to rupture of perfect fibers prepared with polymers of finite molecular weight are calculated by treating the perfect fiber as a stressed crystal undergoing a crystal-melt phase transition. In this view, a tensile load destabilizes the crystal and depresses its melting point. When the load is sufficient to lower the melting temperature to the ambient condition the fiber melts - i.e., fails. The theoretical equations (extremely simple) are applied to several common polymer fibers. The maximum tensile strength of polyethylene, for example, is calculated to be 7 to 9 GPa, in good agreement with current experimental results.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pen.760300802
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