Supramolecular structure for large strain dissipation and outstanding impact resistance in Polyvinylbutyral

International audience; For decades, poly(vinylbutyral) (PVB) has been the polymer of choice to improve the impact resistance of laminated glass. PVB presents large rupture strain, large tensile strength and excellent dissipative properties. Here we investigate the relation between macromolecular structure and mechanical properties of plasticised PVB by combining large strain tensile experiments with calorimetry, X-ray and birefringence measurements. We find that the mechanical response is dominated by creep and that this plastic-like flow can effectively be described by a strain dependent viscosity. The commonalities with other toughened polymeric materials are outlined, and especially the role played by phase separated domains with weaker physical bonds. These results could help optimize polymer design for toughness and impact applications.