Abstract
An analysis of the influence of crystalline microstructure on fatigue crack propagation in poly-oxymethylene is presented. A series of test specimens containing a variety of diverse micro-structures was prepared through controlled thermal treatments of plaques from four different lots of polyoxymethylene. Extensive characterization of the crystalline microstructure was carried out in order to permit a direct comparison between the fatigue behaviour and crystalline microstructure. The degree of crystallinity and tie molecule density were both found to have a significant affect on fatigue crack propagation rate while average spherulite size did not appear to influence fatigue behaviour. Additionally, the fatigue fracture surfaces of many of the test specimens were examined. Three distinct surface topographies were observed and found to correlate with different stages of crack growth. In the region near the end of fatigue crack propagation, closely spaced surface markings that resemble fatigue striations were observed.
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