Effect of Annealing on the Optical and Mechanical Properties of Cold Drawn Polypropylene Fibres

Abstract

Refractive indices and birefringence changes with strain produced by different stresses in annealed and unannealed polypropylene fibres (4 : 1 draw ratio, 515 tex polypropylene from Bolton, UK) were measured interferometrically. Calculations were carried out using multiple-beam Fizeau fringes in transmission to determine the Cauchy's constants, dispersive coefficient and the dielectric constant at infinity. The orientation factor and orientation angle of the fibre material were calculated for different strain values. Poisson's ratio and the strain optical coefficient were also determined. An empirical formula is suggested to correlate the orientation factor, orientation angle, area of cross-section and birefringence with the draw ratio, and the constants of this formula were determined. The effect of the draw ratio on the refractive index profile was studied. Microinterferograms and curves are given as illustrations.