Shear-induced conformation change in α-crystalline nylon6

摘要

A study of shear deformation of α-crystalline nylon6 is undertaken, using dispersion-corrected density functional theory. The shear stress-strain relationship and shear strength for interlayer shear deformation are computed. A conformation change induced by shear is identified along twinning deformation, whereby the conformation of chains, specifically the location of non-H-bonded hydrogen atoms, changes continuously. This paves a way for the modulation of properties of this group of materials by small shear deformation, if the non-H-bonded hydrogens are chemically substituted to form non-equivalent conformations when deformed.