A study on elongation (ΔL/L)-temperature (T) relation under a small constant load has been made with sixteen species of polymer films, including melt-cast crystalline polymers (Teflon, poly-ethylene terephthalate, Nylon-6, polyethylene, etc.), melt-cast amorphous polymers (polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.), solution-cast crystalline polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose triacetate, etc.) and solution-cast amorphous polymers (polyvinyl acetate, cellulose diacetate).
Below the melting region it is found that ΔL/L-T curves for solution-cast films show the same normal thermodynamic thermal changes, as are found in linear expansion regarding, for example, first and second order transitions and crystallization. But those for melt-cast films show the heat relaxation of internal stress caused by casting besides normal thermal changes.
Data of expansion co-efficient and transition temperature are listed in a table.