New aspects of the β–α polymorphic transition in plastically deformed isotactic polypropylene studied by microindentation hardness

The β–α polymorphic transition in plastically deformed isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was characterized by means of microindentation hardness. For this purpose microindentations were mapped onto the surface of the necking zone of a tensile loaded injection molded β-iPP “dumb-bell” specimen. Results evidence a sharp decrease of the H-values instead of the expected H-increase due to the β–α polymorphic transition. Far away from the necking zone an H-increase is detected. It is shown that the destruction of the starting isotropic spherulitic structure and the decrease of crystallinity in the necking zone gives rise to lower H-values. However, at larger distances from the neck, the emerging fibre structure induces a better chain orientation that results in a slight H-increase. Analysis of the isotropic and necked samples before and after their annealing using DSC and WAXS supports the assumption regarding the role of the microvoids in decreasing the hardness value.