Deformation-Induced Anisotropy of Polymers

New theory calculates anisotropies induced by large deformations in polymers. Theory was developed primarily for calculating anistropy of thermal expansivity, but is also applicable to thermal conductivity, elastic moduli and other properties. Theory assumes that in isotropic state, long polymer chains are randomly coiled and not oriented in particular direction. They acquire an orientation when material is deformed. As average molecular orientation increases with deformation, properties of bulk material exhibit averaging of the microscopic anistropies of the oriented molecular segments.