High Speed Property

For the most part, many of the behavioral characteristics discussed are valid for a wide range of loading rates. There may be significant shifts in behavior, however, at load or strain durations that are much shorter than those discussed, usually take about a second or less to perform (Figs. 2-47 and 2-48). This section deals with loading rates significantly faster than those covered so far, namely rapid and impact loading. 

Designers with a background in using other materials will recognize both the similarities and the differences in the behavior of the plastics discussed. As an example, impact resistance has been a continuing issue with engineering materials, particularly certain metals with similarities to many of the phenomena observed in plastics. 

The concept of a ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in plastics is likewise well known in metals, notched metal products being more prone to brittle failure than unnotched specimens. Of course there are major differences, such as the short time moduli of many plastics compared with those in steel, that may be 30 x 106 psi (207 x 106 kPa). Although the ductile metals often undergo local necking during a tensile test, followed by failure in the neck, many ductile plastics exhibit the phenomenon called a propagating neck. Tliese different engineering characteristics also have important effects on certain aspects of impact resistance. 

There are a number of basic forms of energy loads or impingement on products to which plastics react in a manner different from other materials. These dynamic stresses include loading due to impact, impulse, puncture, frictional, hydrostatic, and erosion. They have a difference in response and degree of response to other forms of stress. Analyzing these differences provides 

Whenever a product is loaded rapidly, it can be said to be subjected to impact loading. Any product that is moving has kinetic energy. When this motion is somehow stopped 

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Examination of oven-aged samples has demonstrated that substantial degradation is limited to the outer surface (34), ie, the oxidation process is diffusion limited. Consistent with this conclusion is the observation that oxidation rates are dependent on sample thickness (32). Impact property measurements by high speed puncture tests have shown that the critical thickness of the degraded layer at which surface fracture changes from ductile to brittle is about 0.2 mm. Removal of the degraded layer restores ductiHty (34). Effects of embrittled surface thickness on impact have been studied using ABS coated with styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer (35). 

The critical property for conformal coatings is resistance to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion. Other properties, such as the coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, flexibiHty, and modulus of elasticity, are significant only in particular appHcations. The dielectric constant and loss tangent of the conformal coating are important for high speed appHcations. 

Commonly used materials for cable insulation are poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compounds, polyamides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyurethanes, and fluoropolymers. PVC compounds possess high dielectric and mechanical strength, flexibiUty, and resistance to flame, water, and abrasion. Polyethylene and polypropylene are used for high speed appHcations that require a low dielectric constant and low loss tangent. At low temperatures, these materials are stiff but bendable without breaking. They are also resistant to moisture, chemical attack, heat, and abrasion. Table 14 gives the mechanical and electrical properties of materials used for cable insulation. 

Abrasiveness. This property is closely related to hardness in homogenous materials, but can be affected by particle shape, eg, the presence of sharp corners. In many cases a small proportion, as low as 0.5%, of a hard impurity is enough to cause severe wear to many high speed machines. 

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