Environmental Stress Crazing and Cracking of Transparent Polymers

摘要

The resistance to crack and growth in polycarbonate and poly(methyl methacrylate) is evaluated with several surface active solvents including a component of the universal chemical warfare decontaminant, DS2. A static dead weight loading apparatus is used for experimentation, and linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is used to interpret craze initiation and crack propagation via compact tension tension specimens. Results reflect relationships based on solubility parameters of the solvents and the polymers. Various structural effects due to environmentally induced degradation of these amorphous thermoplastics are illustrated. (AW)