Abstract
A force of 6 nN is required to break a carbon-to-carbon bond1. It therefore follows that polycarbonate in which an area of 1 mm2 is traversed by about 1012 molecular chains ought to survive a stress of 2000 MNm−2 assuming one chain out of three parallels the direction of the applied load. However, the tensile yield strength of polycarbonate2 is 62 MNm−2. Obviously, the initial assumption is a fallacy. It can not be the right way to get an answer to the question - How strong are polymers really?
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© 1982 Plenum Press, New York
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Fischer, M. (1982). Cohesive Strength of Amorphous Polymers at Low and High Temperatures. In: Hartwig, G., Evans, D. (eds) Nonmetallic Materials and Composites at Low Temperatures. Cryogenic Materials Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3365-4_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3365-4_12
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