Miscellaneous Factors Affecting Impact

Other factors which can affect impact behaviour are fabrication defects such as internal voids, inclusions and additives such as pigments, all of which can cause stress concentrations within the material. In addition, internal welds caused by the fusion of partially cooled melt fronts usually turn out to be areas of weakness. The environment may also affect impact behaviour. Plastics exposed to sunlight and weathering for prolonged periods tend to become embrittled due to degradation. Alternatively if the plastic is in the vicinity of a fluid which attacks it, then the crack initiation energy may be reduced. Some plastics are affected by very simple fluids e.g. domestic heating oils act as plasticisers for polyethylene. The effect which water can have on the impact behaviour of nylon is also spectacular as illustrated in Fig. 2.80. 

The surface finish of the specimen may also affect impact behaviour. Machined surfaces usually have tool marks which act as stress concentrations whereas moulded surfaces have a characteristic skin which can offer some protection against crack initiation. If the moulded surface is scratched, then this protection no longer exists. In addition, mouldings occasionally have an embossed surface for decorative effect and tests have shown that this can cause a considerable reduction in impact strength compared to a plain surface. 

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