Fracture studies in rubber‐modified polymers. II. Experimental results: Fracture surface work of rubber‐modified acrylics

Abstract

Abstract With the use of a sandwich‐tapered double‐cantilever beam cleavage specimen (described in part I of this series), the fracture surface work of several commercial and experimental acrylic multipolymers has been measured as a function of crack velocity and rubber content. The plots of fracture surface work versus crack velocity clearly exhibit the effects of rate (crack velocity) and rubber concentration on fracture behavior. Specifically, the fracture surface work of specimens with seven different rubber contents has been determined over a crack velocity range from 10 −5 meters/sec to approximately 10 meters/sec. For each material, distinct maxima occur in the curves of fracture surface work versus crack velocity. The significance of these observations is discussed.