Polymer Tensile Lab | Interactive Materials Science Simulator

Material Setup

Polymer Grade

Environmental Factors

Temperature 20 °C

Tg: ~105°C (Glassy State)

Strain Rate Medium (0.01 s⁻¹)

Test Execution

Apply Strain (ϵ) 0 %

Quick Demos

Message

ASTM D638 Type I Specimen (Simulated)

Undeformed

Eng. Strain (ϵ) 0.0 %

Eng. Stress (σ) 0.0 MPa

Yield Strength - MPa

Ultimate Tensile Strength - MPa

Polycarbonate (PC)

Strong, tough, transparent engineering plastic.

Type: Thermoplastic

Tg: 145 °C

E: 2.3 GPa

Ductility: High

Explore Concepts

Yield Strength marks the end of elastic (reversible) deformation and the onset of plastic (permanent) deformation. In many polymers, it corresponds to a localized drop in stress as a "neck" forms.

Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) is the maximum engineering stress the material withstands before fracture. In strain-hardening polymers, UTS occurs after extensive cold drawing.

After yielding, a localized reduction in cross-section (a neck) forms. In ductile polymers, this neck stabilizes and propagates along the gauge length. This is cold drawing. Stress remains roughly constant during this phase as polymer chains unfold and align.

Once the chains in the necked region become highly aligned and stretched, they strongly resist further deformation. This causes the required stress to rise sharply again, known as strain hardening, culminating in the UTS.

Polymers are viscoelastic. Increasing temperature increases molecular mobility. Below the Glass Transition Temperature (Tg), the polymer is stiff and glassy (brittle). Above Tg, it becomes more rubbery, yielding at lower stress and extending further before fracture.

Engineering Calculator

Calculate basic properties based on standard equations.

Stress (σ = F/A₀)

Force (N)

Area (mm²)

Stress: 37.50 MPa

Unit Converter

MPa

psi