Accelerated Characterization of the Resistance against Crack Initiation and Slow Crack Growth of Polyethylene for Geomembrane Application under the Influence of Media

摘要

Two different High density Polyethylene (PE-HD) grades for geomembrane applications were investigated concerning media resistance. For the characterization of the impact of two different media on the long term failure behavior, cyclic tests with cracked round bar (CRB) specimen were conducted under three different configurations: tests on unexposed specimens, on exposed specimen and tests in a special glass cell with a liquid environment. In addition conventional methods such as immersion tests with subsequent tensile tests, Oxidation Induction Time (OIT) measurement and Infrared (IR)-spectroscopy were carried out in order to observe the materials physical and chemical aging conditions. The conventional methods evidenced a swelling effect of both media and a skin-deep chemical aging of the materials. The cyclic CRB tests showed comparable results with even more pronounced effects for the results of the media cell.