Environmental craze growth in polycarbonate

Abstract

AbstractEnvironmental craze growth in polycarbonate was studied under plane stress and plane strain conditions. In plane stress, the craze growth rate could not be described in terms of either initial stress intensity factor, Ko, net or gross stress. In plane strain, Ko was found to be the governing factor for craze growth, as has been previously reported for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). For shallow cracks (<1 mm), there is evidence of an inherent flaw effect.