Micromechanical deformation mechanisms of two slightly branched polyethylenes have been studied by transmission electron microscopy and scanning force microscopy. Using an ethylene/hexene copolymer the transformation of the lamellar structure in the oriented structure inside a notch-tip craze and using a binary blend of different ethylene/1-hexene copolymers the deformation at elastomeric particles were investigated in detail. In particular, the micro-block arrangement in lamellae and the transformation in structures like strings of beads have been studied using microscopy at higher magnifications.

Keywords: semi-crystalline polymers, ethylene/hexene copolymers, blends, micromechanics, deformation mechanisms, transmission electron microscopy

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