Materials degradation engineering perspective

Wei, R. P., A Perspective on Environmentally Assisted Crack Growth in Steels, Proceedings of International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Engineering Materials, Gdansk-Jurata, Poland, September 19-23 (1999). 

Chapter 1 provides a summary outlook on this complex topic with suggested three key references that address the static and dynamic mechanical behavior and associated degradation of composites from fluid exposure. Since the topic requires mastery of polymer science and engineering, engineering mechanics, chemical and polymer characterization, and thermodynamics of multi-phase materials, the author s perspective is more slanted on solid mechanics aspect of these materials. Jack had consistent financial support for three decades to study this topic from the Solid Mechanics Program managed by Dr. Yapa Rajapakse at the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR). Thus, the author is uniquely qualified to address this complex topic. 

From a strictly mechanical perspective, the question arises whether polydis-perse materials yield better materials for industrial use, or whether monodisperse materials are superior. For many properties, it is the polydisperse sample that achieves the best performance. For other properties, a little low molecular weight impurity can seriously degrade properties like the ultimate modulus and the resistance to embrittlement over time. The goal of polymer engineering is to understand these issues well enough to blend the best brew. 

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