Fracture mechanism of amorphous polystyrene.

The degradation products of polystyrene film specimens have been recorded and their accumulation kinetics in the presence of uniaxial tensile stresses have been studied at various temperatures. It is shown that the accumulation kinetics satisfy the Arrhenius equation for reactions in a mechanical field. The equation for the rupture life can be written in terms of the corresponding parameters of the mechanical degradation reactions. It is concluded that the rupture life and strength of polystyrene depend on the kinetics of mechanical degradation of the polymer chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]