Double torsion fracture testing of high-density polyethylene

Abstract

The fracture of polyethylene has been studied extensively using conventional testing geometries such as three-point bending (TPB) and single-edge notch tension (SENT). These geometries are of limited utility for studying crack growth, because the crack speed is constantly changing and the crack front is in the centre of the specimen. Double torsion (DT) is a fracture geometry that suffers neither of these disadvantages, yet has only received limited attention in the literature. Its use has been limited to highly brittle materials such as glass, ceramics, thermosetting plastics and PMMA. In contrast to these materials, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is an inherently ductile polymer. Before the advantages of DT can be exploited for testing HDPE, it is first necessary to demonstrate the validity of DT fracture measurements performed on such a ductile material. In this paper it is shown that at moderate rates of loading and at temperatures below 0‡C, valid double torsion fracture results can be obtained for an ethylene 1-butene copolymer. A novel technique for specimen preparation and a simple method for accurately monitoring crack growth are also described.