Color Phenomena in Polymer Fracture*

Abstract

Thin layers derived from the matrix are produced in the fracture plane of some polymers prior to ultimate failure. A certain amount of the evidence would indicate that these layers consist of an oriented array of molecules. Fracture isolates these molecular segments in a thin film with physical properties differing from that of the matrix in which they originated. These films produce interference phenomena which in some cases are useful in elucidating structure and origin.