Solvent‐Crazing criteria

Abstract

AbstractCraze initiation in amorphous thermoplastics can be regarded as a transition from the safe to the unsafe state and, as such, can constitute a rational engineering design limit. A critical appraisal is made of three different criteria for initiation, which are of current interest. From this, it is concluded that the approach presented in this article, which is based upon the concept of inelastic strain, is to be preferred to the two other criteria, which are based upon an asymptotic total strain or constant inelastic strain energy criterion. The inelastic strain criterion is not only capable of modeling high stress/strain crazing in air but also satisfies the case of low stress/strain crazing in solvents. Furthermore, it offers an accurate method of extrapolating data to long times and, thus, satisfies a fundamental requirement for a parameter that can be used in engineering design.