Fourier-transform infrared studies of polypropylene during mechanical deformation

Quantitative Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) measurements of frequency shifts Δν and absorbance profile asymmetry are reported for various polypropylene samples as a function of uniaxial stress σ. Generally, it was found that the frequency shift coefficient α_χ, defined by Δν = α_χσ, depended on stress rate \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\dot \sigma$\end{document}, draw ratio, λ, molecular orientation f, tensile modulus E, and annealing conditions. With annealing, α_χ decreased with increasing shrinkage in the case of highly oriented isotactic PP. The α_χ values for the “helix bands” were less affected than those for the “liquid bands.” With increasing \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\dot \sigma$\end{document}, generally α_χ increased to an apparent asymptotic limit. With increasing λ, f, or E, α_χ also increased from α_χ ? 0 for λ = 1 (spherulitic) to maximum values for highly oriented isotactic PP. The observed variations in α_χ can be interpreted in terms of the changes in the peak position and shape of the nonuniform molecular stress distribution. Analogous behavior with x-ray diffraction peaks obtained for polymers under stress is discussed.