CHAPTER 8-2 HW solution

8.6 Two previously undeformed cylindrical specimens of an alloy are to be strain hardened by reducing their
cross-sectional areas (while maintaining their circular cross sections). For one specimen, the initial and
deformed radii are 15 mm and 12 mm, respectively. The second specimen, with an initial radius of 11 mm,
must have the same deformed hardness as the first specimen; compute the second specimen’s radius after
deformation.

Solution
In order for these two cylindrical specimens to have the same deformed hardness, they must be
deformed to the same percent cold work. For the first specimen the percent cold work is computed using
Equation 8.8 as

For the second specimen, the deformed radius is computed using the above equation and solving for rd as

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 8.7 The average grain diameter for a brass material was measured as a function of time at 650°C,
which is tabulated below at two different times:

Time (min) Grain Diameter (mm)

40 5.6 × 10–2
100 8.0 × 10–2

(a) What was the original grain diameter?

(b) What grain diameter would you predict after 200 min at 650°C?

Solution

(a) Using the data given and Equation 8.9 (taking n = 2), we may set up two simultaneous equations
with d0 and K as unknowns; thus

Solution of these expressions yields a value for d0, the original grain diameter, of

d0 = 0.031 mm,

and a value for K of 5.44 ´ 10-5 mm2/min

(b) At 200 min, the diameter d is computed using a rearranged form of Equation 8.9 as

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8.8 Briefly explain how each of the following influences the tensile or yield strength of a semicrystalline
polymer and why:
(a) Molecular weight
(b) Degree of crystallinity
(c) Deformation by drawing
(d) Annealing of an undeformed material

Solution

(a) The tensile strength of a semicrystalline polymer increases with increasing molecular weight.
This effect is explained by increased chain entanglements at higher molecular weights.
(b) Increasing the degree of crystallinity of a semicrystalline polymer leads to an enhancement of the
tensile strength. Again, this is due to enhanced interchain bonding and forces; in response to applied stresses,
interchain motions are thus inhibited.
(c) Deformation by drawing increases the tensile strength of a semicrystalline polymer. This effect is
due to the highly oriented chain structure that is produced by drawing, which gives rise to higher interchain
secondary bonding forces.
(d) Annealing an undeformed semicrystalline polymer produces an increase in its tensile strength.

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 8.9 For each of the following pairs of polymers, plot and label schematic stress–strain curves on the
same graph (i.e., make separate plots for parts a, b, and c).
(a) Polyisoprene having a number-average molecular weight of 100,000 g/mol and 10% of available
sites crosslinked; polyisoprene having a number-average molecular weight of 100,000 g/mol and 20% of
available sites crosslinked
(b) Syndiotactic polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 g/mol; atactic
polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 75,000 g/mol
(c) Branched polyethylene having a number-average molecular weight of 90,000 g/mol; heavily
crosslinked polyethylene having a number-average molecular weight of 90,000 g/mol

Solution

(a) Shown below are the stress-strain curves for the two polyisoprene materials, both of which have a
molecular weight of 100,000 g/mol. These two materials are elastomers and will have curves similar to curve
C in Figure 7.22. However, the curve for the material having the greater number of crosslinks (20%) will
have a higher elastic modulus at all strains.

(b) Shown below are the stress-strain curves for the two polypropylene materials. These materials
will most probably display the stress-strain behavior of a normal plastic, curve B in Figure 7.22. However,
the syndiotactic polypropylene has a higher molecular weight and will also undoubtedly have a higher degree
of crystallinity; therefore, it will have a higher strength.

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 (c) Shown below are the stress-strain curves for the two polyethylene materials. The branched
polyethylene will display the behavior of a normal plastic, curve B in Figure 7.22. On the other hand, the
heavily crosslinked polyethylene will be stiffer, stronger, and more brittle (curve A of Figure 7.22).

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 8.10 Which of the following would you expect to be elastomers and which thermosetting polymers at
room temperature? Justify each choice.
(a) Linear and highly crystalline polyethylene
(b) Heavily crosslinked polyisoprene having a glass-transition temperature of 50°C (122°F)
(c) Linear and partially amorphous poly(vinyl chloride)

Answer

(a) Linear and highly crystalline polyethylene would be neither an elastomer nor a thermoset since it
is a linear polymer.
(b) Heavily crosslinked polyisoprene having a glass transition temperature of 50°C would be a
thermosetting polymer because it is heavily crosslinked. It would not be an elastomer since it is heavily
crosslinked and room temperature is below its Tg.

(c) Linear and partially amorphous poly(vinyl chloride) is neither an elastomer nor a thermoset. In
order to be either it must have some crosslinking.

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