Temperature and frequency effects on fatigue crack growth in acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS)

Abstract

AbstractFatigue crack growth (FCG) in a commercial‐grade acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) over the temperature and frequency ranges of 10–70°C and 0.01–10 Hz was studied. A model for the effects of temperature and frequency on the FCG rate was refined. The refined model is shown to accurately predict FCG rates in ABS. Three different types of fatigue fracture surfaces have been found. The first type is characterized by discontinuous growth bands; the second, by a rather smooth surface; and the last, by a rough surface relative to the second. The transition between the first and second types was found to be dependent on temperature and frequency as well, whereas the transition between the second and last types was found to be only dependent on temperature. These findings are discussed in relation to crazing. The apparent activation energy (ΔHth) was evaluated for both the first and second types to be 19.22 kJ/mol. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.