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Fundamental Mechanism of Slow Crack Growth in Semi-Crystalline Polymers under a Constant Load
Department of Material Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- 1 Department of Material Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
Materials Sciences and Applications·Volume 10 (2019)·Pages 721–731·Published 29 October 2019·DOI10.4236/msa.2019.1011052
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Abstract
The purpose is to quantitatively present in a single equation all the factors that affect the failure time by Slow Crack Growth (SCG) in a semi-crystalline polymer (SCP) under a constant load. The fundamental mechanism of fracture is displayed at the molecular level. The rate of fracturing is determined by the Eyring theory of thermal activation. The resulting equation includes the important molecular properties of therein, the length and density of the tie molecules. The underlying microfracture process is the unfolding of the chains in the crystal under the action of the tie molecules.
KeywordsFailureSemi-Crystalline Polymer
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