Micromechanical deformation processes in toughened and particle filled semicrystalline polymers. Part 2: Model representation for micromechanical deformation processes

Toughening mechanisms occurring in various toughened and particle filled semicrystalline polymers have been investigated by several cursive electron microscopic techniques. In the previous work (Part I) it has been shown that the toughening mechanisms involved in different blend systems are influenced decisively by the phase morphology of modifier particles and the phase adhesion between matrix and modifier particles, which in turn lead to different micromechanical deformation processes. Form these results six different schematic models for micromechanical deformation processes are proposed. To simplify the explanation of micromechanical deformation processes it has been described in form of three-stage-mechanism. Finally, the results of micromechanical deformation processes are discussed with the concept of energy dissipation and stress states. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.