Cold rolling of polymers. 1 Influence of rolling on properties of amorphous polymer

Abstract

Abstract Strips of ductile, amorphous thermoplastic polymers such as polycarbonates, acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrenes, polysulfones and polyphenylene oxides have been reduced in thickness by passing them through a metalworking rolling mill at room temperature. Properties of the rolled strips were studied as a function of the thickness reduction. In addition to rolling unidirectionally, cross rolling (biaxial rolling) was also studied using equal thickness reductions in each direction. The maximum thickness reduction ( t o — t f )100/ t o which could be achieved was approximately 60 per cent regardless of the polymer studied here. Stress‐strain curves, density changes, thermal stability, hardness and Izod impact strengths have been determined as a function of thickness reduction and sheet direction.