Comparative Analysis of the Effective Nonlinear Elastic Modulus of Three Glassy Polymers

Abstract:

In this paper we present comparative study of frequency dependencies of an effective nonlinear elastic modulus of the three widely used glassy polymers, polystyrene, PMMA and polycarbonate. For measurements we use the methodology based on the acousto-elastic effect and analysis of variations in ultrasonic wave velocities under static stress applied to samples. The absolute values of the effective modulus γ = l − 2m, representing a combination of the Murnaghan moduli l and m, demonstrated pronounced nonlinear dependencies on the ultrasonic wave frequency for polystyrene and PMMA. At higher frequencies above ∼1 MHz no significant variations of the modulus occurred, while at lower frequencies down to 400 kHz its absolute value demonstrated a rapid rise of more than an order of magnitude. In polycarbonate the dependence was much less evident, the modulus γ also demonstrated some slight rise in the absolute value at lower frequencies, but the rise was not profound, less than two-fold and almost within the experimental error bars. The origin of the differences in nonlinear elastic properties of polystyrene/PMMA and polycarbonate requires further and more detailed investigation.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1180)
• Pages: 17-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-c89KpZ
• Online since: March 2026
• Authors: Irina V. Semenova*, Andrey V. Belashov, Anna A. Zhikhoreva, Yaroslav M. Beltukov
• Keywords: Frequency Dependence, Nonlinear Elastic Moduli, PMMA, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene

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