| The objective of this study was to determine whether molecular orientation has an effect on the rate of physical aging in amorphous glassy polymers. There is already a large body of literature concerning the physical aging phenomenon, although the vast majority has been directed toward isotropic, unoriented systems. The importance of this study is therefore twofold: first, from a theoretical standpoint, a better understanding of physical aging in oriented systems will help to elucidate the physics of glassy relaxation which is important since the exact mechanism behind physical aging are still unknown. Second, from an engineering standpoint, a knowledge of the orientation aging relationship will help the designer/engineer with product development since many commercially produced plastic items have some degree of orientation present as a result of the processing methods involved.;To measure the aging behavior, samples of bisphenol A polycarbonate and atactic polystyrene were hot drawn (i.e. stretched above T... |
