Plasticized polymers fatigue analysis

Typical features of the spectra of polymers are the changes introduced when the polymer chains are oriented by strain. When observed with polarized radiation the changing orientation of the molecular chains is visible by pleochromism of the infrared bands or the changes of the polarizability in the Raman spectra. Stress relaxation and the effects of fatigue and fracture may be observed, especially when the spectral subtraction technique is applied. These methods are well described by Siesler and Holland-Moritz (1980). In the Atlas of polymer and plastics analysis by Hummel and Scholl (1991) the methods of polymer analysis are described exhaustively and the spectra of plastic material and its constituents are collected. 

Reinforced plastics form an important area of structural application of plastics since the modulus and strength of plastics can be increased significantly through reinforcement. In reinforced plastics, the polymer (popularly called the resin) forms the matrix and a filler (mostly used in the form of fibers, hut particles, for example glass spheres, are also used) provides the reinforcing effect. In view of then-distinctive nature and extensive use as materials of construction in load-hearing applications, a special focus has been on analysis of properties of reinforced plastics, especially those reinforced by continuous or discontinuous fibers, as well as their deformation, fi-acture, fatigue, and impact behaviors. 

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