On the plastic deformation of bulk syndiotactic polypropylene

 The plastic deformation of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) bulk samples has been investigated. A structural comparison of the initial states before and after plastic deformation by necking is carried out by X-ray diffraction observations. Independent of the initial states (amorphous, semi-crystalline with different crystal phases), only the planar all-trans crystal form of sPP is present in the deformed samples after necking. Form these results, molecular mechanisms of the plastic deformation in the neck zone of semi-crystalline polymers will be discussed. Received: 11 February 1997 Accepted: 15 August 1997