Properties of syndiotactic-rich poly(vinyl alcohol) thin films in water. VI. Elastic behavior of undrawn/annealed thin films by repeated elongation/contraction in water

Abstract

The elastic behavior of undrawn/annealed swollen thin films of syndiotactic-rich poly(vinyl alcohol), derived from vinyl trifluoroacetate, was studied by repeated elongation/contraction in water. For the films annealed at temperatures below 175°C, the characteristic of deformation was divided into low-drawn and high-drawn regions. The elastic deformation was dominant over the plastic deformation in the low-drawn region and vice versa in the high-drawn region. The effect of heat treatment on the elastic behavior of the swollen films in water almost independent of annealing temperatures below 125°C. The elastic deformation in water at 70°C was especially remarkable in the low-drawn region for the films annealed at temperatures below 125°C and at 80°C for the films annealed at 150°C. For the films annealed at 200°C, considerable plastic deformation occurred in addition to elastic deformation from the initial drawing; the films were broken in the low-drawn region.