Asymmetric double cantilever beam ADCB

A quantitative approach to the reinforcement of interfaces with block copolymers is necessary. Such an approach requires a way to evaluate the strength of the interface separately from any change in the morphology or microstructure of the blend. While classic fracture mechanics tests such as compact tension and double torsion could be used, the asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) test used in the first such study [17] has been adopted by all successive workers to date. In this experimental geometry, shown schematically in Fig. 3, a wedge (usually a razor blade) is inserted at the interface. In some versions of the test the... 

Prombut et al. [77] used carbon fibre epoxy (T7(X)/M21) laminates in asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) and asymmetric mixed-mode flexure (AMMF) specimens besides standard mode I, mode II and mixed mode I/II flexure specimens in their investigation, and they complemented the experiments with numerical simulations. Although they succeeded in preventing jumps in the delamination plane and achieved reasonable crack front profiles, they concluded that more work would be needed to establish a crack propagation criterion for the 0°/45° interface. 

The experimental results that will be examined consist of studies that look at the ability of a random copolymer to improve the properties of mixtures of the two homopolymers relative to the ability of a block copolymer. The three different systems that are examined include copolymers of poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (S/MMA), poly(styrene-co-2-vinyl pyridine) (S/2VP), and poly(styrene-co-ethylene) (S/E) in mixtures of the two homopolymers. The experiments that have been utilized to examine the ability of the copolymer to strengthen a polymer blend include the examination of the tensile properties of the compatibilized blend and the determination of the interfacial strength between the two homopolymers using asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) experiments. 

ABR acrylate-butadiene rubber ADCB asymmetric double cantilever beam... 

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