Notch sensitivity

Carbon content is usually about 0.15% but may be higher in bolting steels and hot-work die steels. Molybdenum content is usually between 0.5 and 1.5% it increases creep—mpture strength and prevents temper embrittlement at the higher chromium contents. In the modified steels, siUcon is added to improve oxidation resistance, titanium and vanadium to stabilize the carbides to higher temperatures, and nickel to reduce notch sensitivity. Most of the chromium—molybdenum steels are used in the aimealed or in the normalized and tempered condition some of the modified grades have better properties in the quench and tempered condition. 

The use of PC—ABS blends has grown significantly in the early 1990s. These blends exhibit excellent properties, particularly low temperature ductihty, reduced notch sensitivity, and ease of melt fabrication. The blend morphology (229), ABS composition, thermal history (215), PC content and molecular weight (300), processing conditions, etc, all affect the mechanical behavior of PC—ABS blends. These blends have been most frequently used in automotive and other engineering appHcations. 

For a part to exhibit stmctural stiffness, flexural moduH should be above 2000 N/mm (290,000 psi). Notched l2od impact values should be deterrnined at different thicknesses. Some plastics exhibit different notch sensitivities. For example, PC, 3.2 mm thick, has a notched l2od impact of 800 J/m (15 fdbf/in.) which drops to 100 J/m (1.9 fflbf/in.) at 6.4-mm thickness. On the other hand, one bisphenol A phthalate-based polyarylate resin maintains a 250-J /m (4.7-fdbf/in.) notched l2od impact at both thicknesses. Toughness depends on the stmcture of the part under consideration as well as the plastic employed to make the part. Mechanical properties, like electrical properties, ate also subject to thermal and water-content changes. 

A more complicated, and more effective, mechanism operates in partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ), which has general application to other ceramics. Consider the analogy of a chocolate bar. Chocolate is a brittle solid and because of this it is notch-sensitive notches are moulded into chocolate to help you break it in a fair, controlled way. Some chocolate bars have raisins and nuts in them, and they are less brittle a crack, when it... 

In analyzing these data it is necessary to go beyond the curves and determine the expected behavior of the material with respect to notch sensitivity. Problems with notch sensitivity can often be corrected by modifying the processing steps and/or heat treatment. 

Notch sensitivity Associated with Defects in Steel... 

Low notch toughness high notch sensitivity rapid, running failures below DBT. 

The presence of notches or sharp angles or of a few holes, voids, particle inclusions or small inserts tends to concentrate the stress. Different polymers vary in their notch sensitivity and this is presumably a reflection of how close they are to their tough-brittle transitions. The aim of the designer and processor must be to reduce such stress concentration to a minimum. 

Polymers of this sort possess an interesting combination of properties. They are clear and tough (although notch sensitive) and exhibit a level of flexibility somewhat higher than that of polypropylene. Typical properties are given in Table 16.6. 

The glass-fibre nylons have a resistance to creep at least three times as great as unfilled polymers. In the case of impact strength the situation is complex since unfilled nylons tend to break showing tough fracture whereas the filled polymers break with a brittle fracture. On the other hand the glass-filled polymers are less notch sensitive and in some tests and service conditions the glass-filled nylons may prove the more satisfactory. 

Polycarbonates with superior notched impact strength, made by reacting bisphenol A, bis-phenol S and phosgene, were introduced in 1980 (Merlon T). These copolymers have a better impact strength at low temperatures than conventional polycarbonate, with little or no sacrifice in transparency. These co-carbonate polymers are also less notch sensitive and, unlike for the standard bis-phenol A polymer, the notched impact strength is almost independent of specimen thickness. Impact resistance increases with increase in the bis-phenol S component in the polymer feed. Whilst tensile and flexural properties are similar to those of the bis-phenol A polycarbonate, the polyco-carbonates have a slightly lower deflection temperature under load of about 126°C at 1.81 MPa loading. 

Notch sensitivity and susceptibility to crazing under strain. 

The styrene-based terpolymers were originally used to the extent of some 2-9% in order to reduce the notch sensitivity of the polycarbonate and to improve the environmental stress cracking resistance. More recently emphasis has been on alloys with 10-50% of SAN or ABS. Alloys of polycarbonates with ASA have also become available (Luran SC-BASF)... 

Block copolymers of polycarbonates and silicone polymers have also been commercially marketed (e.g. Makrolons KU 1-1198 and KU 1-1207). These block copolymers show a marked increase in toughness at low temperatures coupled with reduced notch sensitivity. (They show little improvement in toughness at normal ambient temperatures.)... 

Notch sensitivity Effect of low temperature Maximum transition temperature ( O... 

Polycarbonate is perhaps the most notoriously notch-sensitive of all thermoplastics, although nylons arc also susceptible to ductileAjrittle transitions in failure behaviour caused by notch sharpening. Other plastics such as acrylic, polystyrene and thermosets are always brittle - whatever the crack condition. 

Graphs such as Fig. 2.79 also give a convenient representation of the notch sensitivity of materials. For example it may be seen that sharp notches are clearly detrimental to all the materials tested and should be avoided in any good design. However, it is also apparent that the benefit derived from using generously rounded comers is much less for ABS than it is for materials such as nylon or PVC. 

Fig. 8.75 Relation between (k — l)/n) and tj in 1% NaCl, where k is the ratio of fatigue strength in air to that in a corrosive environment, the notch sensitivity factor on fatigue strength, the corrosion current density at start of fatigue cycling, and jy the total life in...

Endo, K., Komai, K. and Nakamuro, N., Estimation of corrosion fatigue strength from corrosion resistance and notch sensitivity of the materials . Bull. Jap. Soc. Mech. Eng., 13, 837-46 (1970)... 

Likewise, dead sharp corners or notches subjected to tensile loads during impact may decrease the impact resistance of a product by acting as stress concentrators, whereas generous radii in these areas may distribute the tensile load and enhance the impact resistance. This point is particularly important for products comprised of materials whose intrinsic impact resistance is a strong function of a notch radius. Such notch sensitive materials are characterized by an impact resistance that decreases drastically with notch... 

I mpact strength Notch sensitivity Critical stress intensity factor... 

The Izod impact test may indicate the need to avoid inside sharp corners on parts made of such materials. For example, nylon and acetal-type plastics, which in molded products are among the toughest materials, are notch-sensitive and register relatively low values on the notched Izod impact test. 

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