Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.34, No.16, 1269-1274, 1994
Thermal-Behavior of Hydrostatically Extruded Polycarbonate and High-Impact Polystyrene
Effects of hydrostatic extrusion on the thermal properties of polycarbonate (PC) and of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) were studied using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements. A glass transition temperature (T-g) and a peak temperature were determined from the DSC curves for both PC and HIPS extrudates. The T-g values of the PC extrudates, with a percentage reduction in area, R, from 40 to 50%, change appreciably from the value for the as-received PC. The results of the hydrostatic extrusion of the PC billets suggest that a two stage deformation process of molecular chains may be involved. Shear-banding is observed for HIPS extrudates with R = 30 to 60%; this fact indicates that a sub-glass transition (beta-transition) occurs at temperatures below T-g. It is suggested that the molecular chains of the HIPS extrudate with R = 70% are oriented in the direction of hydrostatic extrusion. The deformation mechanism of molecular chains caused by the hydrostatic extrusion is discussed.