Stress distribution in poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber estimated from vibrational spectroscopic measurement under tension. II. Analysis of inhomogeneous stress distribution in PBO fiber

Fourier transform Raman spectra were measured for poly‐p‐phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber subjected to a tensile stress, and the Raman shift factor (the frequency shift caused by 1 GPa tensile stress) depended strongly on the sample‐preparation condition. To clarify the reasons of this dependency, a mechanical series parallel model was adopted that could successfully and quantitatively explain the observed Raman shift factors and gave a concreate heterogeneous stress distribution in the PBO fibers. As a result, a mechanical series model was reasonable for PBO fiber. Broadening of Raman bands, which was observed when the PBO fiber was tensioned, could also be interpreted on the basis of an idea of heterogeneous stress distribution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1281–1287, 2002