Effects of drawing conditions on the properties of optical fibers made from polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Monofilaments possessing various degrees of birefringence were obtained by changing the drawing rate, the molten polymer temperature, and the molecular weight of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The “brittle-toductile” transition point of optically pure PS was found in the range of birefringences of ?0.6 · 10^?3 to ?2.6 · 10^?3. Both the height and position of this point are influenced by M?_w, molecular weight distribution, and polymer melt temperature. The birefringence of PS is higher by two orders of magnitude than that of PMMA in which this transition point has not been observed. The mechanical and optical properties depend not only on the average amount of orientation characterized by the birefringence but on what portion of the relaxation spectrum of the polymer is preferentially oriented. During the drawing of PS and PMMA monofilaments crazes are formed in the centre of the fibers and do not reach the surface.