Abstract
The use of solubility parameters to predict critical stress (σc*) or strains (e{open}c) for environmental cracking/crazing in several glassy polymers (e.g. PMMA, PPO, PS, PVC, PSF and PC) is re-examined. It is shown that the enthalpic component (χH) of the Flory-Huggins semi-interaction parameter (χ) does not always give a good correlation between e{open}c and χH even though solvent molar volume and polymer-solvent molecular interactions have already been considered. Re-analysis of available experimental data using Gent's theory shows that there is a general trend for σc* (or e{open}c) to increase with χ. These results, therefore, support Gent's proposed mechanism of environmental stress crazing/cracking. It is finally concluded that unless a definite relationship can be established between e{open}c or σc* with χH it is not possible to predict a priori e{open}c or σc*, given the empirical solubility parameters of a solvent. Unfortunately, there are not many such relationships as discovered in this paper.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 904-916 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Materials Science |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1986 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Materials Science (miscellaneous)
- General Materials Science
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Polymers and Plastics