The influence of supermolecular structures on the axial compressional behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fibers was investigated．Two kinds of PVA fibers with different the morphological structure of molecular chains

PVA-H fiber and PVA-B fiber were studied．PVA-H fiber with a long-period structure that is made up of stacked folded-chain crystals has a homogeneous appearance

while PVA-B fiber with extended-chain crystals has a characteristic banded structure．The axial deformation behavior of PVA-B fibers was quite different from that of PVA-H fibers．When the PVA-B fibers were axially compressed

the PVA molecules in the banded structure were considerably kinked in zigzag fashion from band to band to form deep “crease”．Finally

all banded structures in the fiber were destroyed．It is suggested that (101)[010] slip plays an important role in the deformation of the PVA-B fibers.