Comparisons of deformation and fracture behaviour of PC/ABS blend and ABS copolymer under dynamic shear loading

Abstract

The dynamic shear deformation and fracture characteristics of PC/ABS blend and ABS copolymer with regard to the relation between mechanical properties and strain rate, are studied experimentally using a torsional split Hopkinson bar at room temperature under strain rates ranging from 8 × 102 s-1 to 3.4 × 103 s-1. Fracture phenomena are analysed by scanning electron microscopy and correlated with macroscopic behaviour. The relative properties and fracture mechanism of both polymers are also compared. Results show that strain rate enhances shear strength of both PC/ABS blend and ABS, but fracture shear strain tends to decrease with increasing strain rate. ABS exhibits better ductility and lower shear strength. For both polymers, strain rate sensitivity increases with increasing range of strain rate, while an inverse tendency occurs for activation volume. Higher strain rate sensitivity and lower activation volume are found in PC/ABS blend. PC/ABS blend fracture is dominated by mixed shearing and tearing, but ABS fracture shows only shearing. Due to the increasing deformation heat, fracture surface viscoplastic flow for both polymers increases with increasing strain rate, inducing lower flow resistance and lower fracture strain at higher stain rates. The viscoplastic flow behaviour in ABS is more active.