Characterization of the drastic increase in molecular mobility of a deformed amorphous polymer

Original experiments of dynamic mechanical analysis and small angle x-ray scattering on a deformed amorphous polymer below its glass transition temperature are reported. The mechanical treatment reveals high mobility zones induced by shearing and leads to a drastic increase in the molecular mobility of the system. These domains are evidenced by small angle x-ray scattering measurements, and their geometrical characteristics are independent of the applied deformation. An experimental procedure is proposed to determine an apparent activation energy associated with high mobility domains. The energy values obtained for intermediate modes rise from the beta to the alpha relaxation ones.