Crack propagation prevention

In neutral solutions the application of cathodic polarisation prevents crack initiation and this could be taken to indicate that hydrogen embrittlement is not the operative mechanism, since the discharge and entry of hydrogen might be expected to fracture the specimen more readily. The beneficial effect of cathodic polarisation has been interpreted , however, to result from more rapid film repair in the alkaline catholyte generated by the cathode reaction. The film serves as a barrier to rapid hydrogen entry. Consistent with this is the observation that in an environment of low pH (e.g. 10 N HCl) where film formation would not be expected, cathodic polarisation has no effect upon crack propagation. 

The first three mechanisms of surfactant adsorption have been criticized mainly because crack propagation velocities in comminution devices are often much more than the rate of adsorption of the surfactants normally used as grinding aids (20). There is considerable evidence and concurrence of opinion on the prevention of agglomeration as the mechanism of grinding aid action (21). 

Materials science associated with fracture mechanics has mainly been confined to composite materials such as concrete, ceramics and metals. Much of the emphasis of the research has been on preventing fatigue and failure rather than designing for it to occur. The way a structure deforms and breaks under stress is crucial for properties such as flow and fracture behaviour, sensory perception of structure, water release and the mobility and release of active compounds. In the case of foods, the ability to break down and interact with the mouth surfaces provides texture and taste attributes. The crack propagation in a complex supramolecular structure is highly dependent on the continuous matrix, interfacial properties and defects and the heterogeneity of the structure. Previous structure-fracture work has dealt with cellular plant foods, and it has been demonstrated that the fracture path differs between fresh and boiled carrots due to cellular adhesion and cell wall strength as well as cell wall porosity and fluid transport (Thiel and Donald 1998 Stoke and Donald 2000 Lillford 2000). 

The materials with through-the-thickness fibers had a much higher fracture toughness than ordinary layered composites, therefore the specimen arms were broken before the onset of crack propagation. In order to prevent this, metal tabs were glued to the bottom and upper sides of the specimens. Steel tabs 30 XTCA (so called "spring steel") of thickness 2,0, 2,2, and 2,5 mm and width 17 mm were used. 

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