Shrinkage overview

Figure 9 Overview of fracture surface of phenol-formaldehyde bonded joint showing exposed adhesive layer (A) without preexisting cure-shrinkage cracks and surface of lower adherend (B). The sloped test fracture surfaces (arrow) characteristic of phenol-formaldehyde and toughened urea-formaldehyde adhesive layers show where the crack jumped from one interphase to the opposite as the crack traveled in the fiber direction.

Kovler, K., Zhutowsky, S. (2006) Overview and future trends of shrinkage research, Materials and Structures, RILEM, 39 827-47. 

Figure 7-10. An overview of the Computer-Integrated Injection Molding (CIIM) machine from TMConcept, which includes shrinkage control (Metstal is a Swiss machine manufacturer).

Phase transformations play an important role within the science of construction materials. Different phenomena such as hardening of steel, freezing damage of concrete, moisture absorption in wood, and chemical shrinkage of hardening cement paste, are all connected with phase transformations in systems of matter. Table 4.1 contains an overview of the most important phase transformations between substances in the solid, liquid, and gaseous states. 

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