The Influence of Mechanical Stress Micro Fields around Pores on the Strength of Elongated Etched Membrane.

The investigation of the mechanical properties of polymer track-etched membranes (TMs) has attracted significant attention in connection with the extended region of their possible applications. In the present work, the mechanical stress fields around the pores of an elongated polyethylene terephthalate TM and around the 0.3 mm holes in model polymer specimens were studied in polarized light and with the finite element method.