A molecular model for ductility (T< T_g) and drawability (T>T_g) of semicrystalline polymers

We make oversimplifications to construct a tractable molecular model for mechanics of semicrystalline polymers that takes into account of the mechanical interplay between crystalline and amorphous regions connected by tie chains. The idea can be reformulated to address the origin of yielding or breaking in semicrystalline polymers that form spherulites. Our goal is to understand the brittle failure of fully crystallized glassy polymers such as PLA and PET and whether or not various semicrystalline polymers are highly drawable above their glass transition temperatures.