Double yielding in PA6: Effect of mold temperature and moisture content.

In this study we have investigated the effect of mold temperature and moisture content on double yielding of virgin polyamide 6 (PA6) uniaxially deformed at room temperature. The experimental results have revealed that, to a certain extent, a limited increment in both mold temperature and moisture content will make the second yield process become more apparent. However, the double yielding behavior will disappear totally in the case of much higher mold temperature and moisture content. Instead, a typical single sharp yield or brittle fracture will be present in the former case, while in the latter case the samples only display a very broad yield, similar to a rubber‐like deformation. Maybe two critical states will be in existence in PA6 exhibiting double yielding behavior, and the critical states are probably relevant with the concentration of the interlinks and intralinks, the lamellae perfection and the crystallite size. Particular emphasis should be placed on the role of interlinks and intralinks when considering the origin of double yielding of virgin PA6 since these links affect the stress transfer significantly. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1217–1225, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]