A study has been carried out of the changes in the x‐ray diffraction patterns which occur when oriented fibers or tapes of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (3GT) and poly‐(tetramethylene terephthalate) (4GT) are subjected to mechanical tensile stress. Although the polymers show very different behavior in detail, in both cases comparatively large reversible lattice strains are observed (∼ several %). The diffraction pattern of 3GT changes monotonically with increasing macroscopic strain, suggesting that the lattice responds immediately to the applied stress, and deforms as though it were a coiled spring. In 4GT, on the other hand, there is no detectable change in the x‐ray diffraction pattern at low macroscopic strains, i.e., low values of the applied stress. At higher stresses, changes in the pattern occur which suggest a definite change in the crystal structure. Finally at the highest values of applied stress, the lattice deformations cease to increase. A preliminary discussion is presented of the relationship of these x‐ray diffraction results to the mechanical stress–strain behavior.

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