Young's modulus of polyethylene in the microstrain region

The stress–strain behavior of various polyethylenes was measured with a strain sensitivity of 2 × 10−7. Young's modulus was measured as a function of the strain rate. The shapes of the stress–strain curves in the vicinity of room temperature were nonlinear down to the lowest measurable strain. The stress–strain behavior in the microstrain region was well described by the model of the standard linear solid. From the model, the relaxation time was determined along with the relaxed and unrelaxed moduli. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2420–2429, 2001