Destructive changes of polymer matrices during preparation, storage, and mechanical testing of neat and C₆₀‐filled polystyrene films

Abstract

Mechanical properties of filled and neat polystyrene films prepared under the same conditions have been studied. Composite films have been obtained from mixed dilute solutions of polystyrene and C 60 fullerene in various solvents by solvent evaporation on glass substrate. Morphology of the composite films has been shown to depend on preparation conditions and to change both with time and during deformation. Mechanical parameters obtained in tensile tests and by dynamic mechanical analysis of filled and unfilled samples have been found to change with molecular weight of the matrix and preparation conditions as well as during testing. Variability of mechanical properties has been shown to be the effect of destructive changes in polymer matrices during preparation, storage, and deformation.