Finite strain behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) above the glass transition temperature

Abstract

An experimental study of the strain rate and temperature dependencies of the stress–strain behavior of PET under large strain deformation was conducted over a range in strain rates (−0.005 to −2.0 s −1) and temperatures (90°C–105°C) in both uniaxial and plane strain compression. The increase in crystallinity content with varying strain rate and temperature and for the two different states of strain that developed as a result of these deformation conditions was investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The nature and evolution of the crystallographic texture was studied using Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD) measurements. The stress–strain behavior is found to exhibit four characteristic features: (1) a relatively high initial stiffness, (2) followed by a rollover in the stress–strain curve to flow behavior, (3) followed by an increase in stress with continuing strain, (4) followed by a dramatic increase in stress with strain at very large strains. These four features strongly depend on strain rate, temperature and state of strain. DSC and WAXD measurements on deformed specimens indicated an increase in crystallinity with increasing strain rate and decreasing deformation temperature under both uniaxial and plane strain conditions. The WAXD measurements also revealed that the preferential crystallographic texture that develops is consistent with the molecular orientation which develops with the different states of strain.