To clarify the effect of cavitation, which is mostly induced by crystalline phase, on the plastic deformation and failure of isotactic polypropylene, solid-state annealing at 160 degrees C for 1.5 h is adopted to change the crystalline phase only while the amorphous phase keeps nearly intact. With aid of a special video setup, the relation of true stress and strain as well as the evolution of volume strain with axial strain has been derived. Enhancing crystalline phase due to annealing increases the yield stress and volume strain simultaneously. Moreover, the strain corresponding to steep increasing of volume strain is comparable with that related to yield, indicating that cavitation at early stage is accompanied with process of yield. With knowledge of toughness derived from impact tensile stretching and essential work of fracture (EWF), respectively, the relationship between cavitation and toughness has been correlated to some degree. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.