Crazing of glassy polymers in alcohols and hydrocarbons

Abstract

AbstractIn the crazing of glassy amorphous polymers, wetting ability and penetration of the fluid are the important practical parameters governing the activity of the fluid. Higher molecular weight and the presence of polar groups in the fluids result in an increase in the critical stress for craze initiation in polystyrene and polycarbonate. The Eyring treatment of the craze process can describe fairly well the temperature and strain rate dependence of the critical stress. The parameters involved in the Eyring theory suggest that the crazing takes place by a molecular motion of lower energy than does macroscopic yielding.