Nonlinear effects at the deformation of amorphous polymers in warm and frozen states

Abstract

One of the important problems of the modern rheology of polymer materials, namely, the possibility of describing the deformation of amorphous polymers within the framework of linear rheological relationships between relative deformation and deforming stress or the need to use nonlinear rheological equations is considered. The criteria for distinguishing these approaches, namely, the determination of the corresponding critical values of the macro- and microphysical characteristics of the material and the conditions for carrying out the mechanical tests are also discussed. In particular, the difference between the influence of kinetic and thermodynamic nonlinear effects on the regularities of deformation processes of amorphous polymers in warm and frozen states was noted. The influence of nonlinear effects on the general shape and characteristics of individual stages of the “relative strain - deforming stress” diagram at deformation of polymer samples with specified values of strain rate and temperature is analyzed in detail. The results of the theoretical analysis were used for the physical interpretation of the general form and features of individual stages of the tensile test diagrams of amorphous polyimide films (V. D. Natsik, H. V. Rusakova, S. V. Lubenets, V. A. Lototskaya, and L. F. Yakovenko, Fiz. Nyzk. Temp. 49, 569 (2023) [Low Temp. Phys. 49, 521 (2023)]), empirical estimates for the rheological characteristics of this polymer were obtained.