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Failure of brittle polymers by slow crack growth

Part 2 Failure processes in a silica particle-filled epoxy resin composite

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Abstract

The variation of crack velocity (V) with stress intensity factor (K I) at the tip of a crack has been measured for an epoxy resin containing 42% by volume of irregularly-shaped silica particles. It has been found that at crack velocities above 10−5 m sec−1 the crack propagates primarily through the silica particles, whereas at velocities below this value, failure occurs primarily by particle pull-out. This variation in fracture mode is accompanied by a corresponding change in slope of the V(K) curve. Using data obtained from creep rupture experiments and the derived V(K) relationship, it has been possible to estimate the size of the inherent flaw in the composite. This was found to be approximately twice the average particle diameter which is also equal to the size of the largest particles (∼140 μm). Fracture of the unfilled epoxy resin and the effect of environment upon slow crack growth in the composite have also been investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK

    R. J. Young & P. W. R. Beaumont

Authors
  1. R. J. Young
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  2. P. W. R. Beaumont
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Young, R.J., Beaumont, P.W.R. Failure of brittle polymers by slow crack growth. J Mater Sci 10, 1343–1350 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540824

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540824

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