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Environmental stress crack growth in low-density polyethylene
Journal article

Environmental stress crack growth in low-density polyethylene

A. Lustiger, R.D. Corneliussen and M.R. Kantz
Materials science and engineering, v 33(1), pp 117-123
Apr 1978

Abstract

Stages of environmental stress cracking in low-density polyethylene were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Environmental stress cracking was induced in a surfactant bath using two well established methods. It was found that both crazes and shear bands appear on specimen surfaces during the early stage of stress cracking. Elliptical cracks subsequently grow out of the shear bands and ultimately connect to form macroscopic cracks. In addition to the appearance of the elliptical cracks, subsurface cracks formed in specimens subjected to bending. Fracture initiates when the subsurface cracks ultimately join with the surface cracks generated from shear bands. The formation of crazes and shear bands is explained by adsorption of the polar surfactant and subsequent plasticization in locally stressed regions in the polyethylene. The growth of elliptical cracks from shear bands is consistent with a model first proposed by Isaken, Newman and Clark in 1963 for the environmental stress cracking of high density polyethylene.

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