Strain hardening in glassy polymers: influence of network density on elastic and viscous contributions: Influence of network density on elastic and viscous contributions

n this study, the rate‐ and temperature‐dependent strain hardening and the Bauschinger effect is studied for three glassy polymers. It appeared that for all materials, an equal distribution of elastic and viscous hardening was necessary to accurately predict the Bauschinger effect, as well as the rate‐ and temperature‐dependent strain hardening response. As for the elastic contribution, the viscous contribution appears to increase with an increase in entanglement network density. Investigating the effect of temperature on the Bauschinger effect revealed that at elevated temperatures the model predictions are not accurately enough. It is shown that this is caused by the magnitude of the elastic hardening contribution; to improve the predictions, a temperature‐dependent elastic contribution is necessary.