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Surface morphology of polystyrene fractured in liquids
Author(s) -
Earl B. L.,
Loneragan R. J.,
Markham J.,
Crook M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1974.070180121
Subject(s) - polystyrene , materials science , fracture (geology) , solvent , composite material , surface tension , scanning electron microscope , morphology (biology) , tension (geology) , surface (topology) , ultimate tensile strength , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , geology , geometry , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , paleontology
Polystyrene test pieces broken by flexure in the presence of n ‐propanol and other alcohols have been examined by scanning electron microscopy. Two regions on the fracture surface are observed; a narrow band near to the tension surface corresponds to fracture through a solvent craze, but the remainder of the surface is identical to fracture surfaces produced in air. The solvent‐crazed region has a cellular structure decreasing in scale toward the tip of the craze. An explanation of these features is offered in terms of the changing conditions of stress and solvent content ahead of the growing craze.