Polymer, Vol.35, No.22, 4734-4742, 1994
Influence of Mechanical Deageing and Subsequent Physical Aging on the Loss Curve of Polycarbonate
Mechanical damping spectra have been measured between the beta and alpha transitions on specimens of polycarbonate deformed by traction or cold pressing in the pre-yield region and left thereafter to recover at room temperature for given periods of time. The deformation is always applied to samples previously aged for 2 years at room temperature after quenching from above the glass transition temperature. The deageing effect induced by small applied deformation is apparent on the damping spectra by the enhancement of two peaks : the alpha’ peak precursor of the alpha transition and the alpha" peak partially merging with the alpha’ peak and at a lower temperature with the beta loss process. Several experimental parameters such as the mode, amount of deformation and the recovery time after release of the stress are chosen to investigate the enhancement conditions and the relaxation behaviours of the alpha’ and alpha" loss processes. The location of the alpha’ peak is well understood in terms of a classical formalism together with the hypothesis that a change in the structural temperature of the sample occurs as a result of the small deformation. At present, no interpretation of the alpha" loss process has been proposed, but it is obvious from the present data that the existence of a strain-induced alpha" loss process contributes significantly to the deageing and further physical ageing effects probed in the vicinity of room temperature by mechanical damping measurements.