Aging phenomena in isotactic polypropylene drawn at different temperatures

Fibers of isotactic polypropylene drawn at different temperatures show aging phenomena after drawing. In particular a modulus stiffening is observed at room temperature where the modulus increases with the aging time. In the same time scale the birefringence is constant, while drastic effects on the transport properties are observed. The aging phenomenon can be explained in terms of two mechanisms: a secondary crystallization and/or a densification of the amorphous component.