Insights into damage mechanisms and advances in numerical simulation of spherulitic polymers

Semi-crystalline polymers possess a unique molecular chain arrangement, exhibiting partial order and disorder in the solid state. This distinctive arrangement imparts properties combining both the properties of crystalline and amorphous materials, making semi-crystalline polymers promising candidates for various harsh engineering applications. Considering the complex nature of the microstructure, various service conditions induce different deformation mechanisms and fracture behaviors ranging from the micro level to the macro level. Diverse fracture patterns in spherulites at the macro level have been found, while, at the mesoscopic level, the microstructure and distinct deformation mechanisms of the two phases have not yet been systematically summarized and understood. This paper reviews the relationship between spherulitic microstructure and damage mechanisms of semi-crystalline polymers at the mesoscopic level from both aspects of experimental characterization and numerical modeling. A deeper understanding of the damage behavior is educated based on the state-of-the-art review, which is crucial for providing theoretical support for their broader engineering applications.