Crack propagation rubbers

It has been demonstrated that with SBR polystyrene blends the rubber should exist in discrete droplets, less than 50 p.m in diameter where a good finish is required, within the polystyrene matrix. It is believed that in such a form the rubber can reduce crack propagation and hence fracture in various ways. The most favoured current explanations of this were discussed in Chapter 3. Suffice it to say here that the following features appear necessary for a suitable blend ... 

Improve both impact strength and rigidity of thermoplastics by using up the energy of crack propagation. Elastomers are prototypical toughening additives. Examples of high-polymeric impact modifier/thermoplastic matrix systems are EVA, CPE and MBS in PVC, EP(D)M and SBS in PA, and acrylic rubbers in polyesters. 

Fig. 12a and b. Pre-crack fronts of fracture toughness specimens a 10-2330-20F and b 15-1500-70F. Ellipses highlight torn rubber domain. Arrows indicate direction of crack propagation. Original SEM magnification, 300 x... 

Aggression of a liquid upon a rubber-modified polymer under stress is well studied and depends upon capillary transport of the liquid to the crack tip. Crack propagation is resisted by the molecular weight of the continuous phase and aided by the plasticization effect of the aggressive liquid or plasticizer in the polymer matrix. High molecular weight, unplasticized products can be expected to have enhanced ESCR to aggressive liquids. 

The use of glass fibres to enhance energy dissipation, which only functions if the fibres are oriented perpendicular to the crack propagation, is important for applications of sPS. However, since this chapter is concerned primarily with the rubber modification of sPS, it will not be considered in detail here. 

It is worth noting that this semi-ductile behavior has been found in other polymers Newmann and Williams [4] observed stable crack propagation before brittle fracture in ABS over the temperature range from —40 to 0°C Bernal and Frontini also observed this type of behavior in a rubber-modified thermoplastic at room temperature [12]. 

Many investigations of the mechanical properties of ABS and of the nature of rubber toughening in this material have been made and these findings are reviewed and discussed by Bucknall and by Mann and Williamson There have been fewer studies of fatigue performance, and most of these are concerned only with crack propagation in notched specimens Here we are concerned with the... 

At the same stress amplitude, rubber modified polymers fail sooner in fatigue than do the unmodified polymers even though they have superior resistance to fatigue crack propagation. This is a result of much earlier initiation of crazing, localized plastic deformation, and subsequent crack development due to the stress concentrating effect of the dispersed second phase particles. 

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