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Essential Work of Fracture of photo‐oxidized LDPE/EVA Films
Author(s) -
Fasce L.,
Chiaverano G.,
Lach R.,
Frontini P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200750131
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , low density polyethylene , fracture toughness , ultimate tensile strength , irradiation , fracture (geology) , yield (engineering) , amorphous solid , modulus , polymer , toughness , elastic modulus , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , nuclear physics
The Essential Work of Fracture approach (EWF) was used to determine how UV‐C irradiation alters the fracture behaviour of LDPE/EVA films. Complementary characterization was performed by FTIR, DSC, TOM, and uniaxial tensile testing. The crosslinking reactions that govern photo‐oxidation process at initial stage of exposure stiffened the amorphous phase of the polymer, leading to films with enhanced elastic modulus, yield stress and ultimate strength, but impaired strain at break. In the fracture experiments carried out on films irradiated within 0 and 5 days, EWF methodology requirements were met and the corresponding fracture toughness parameters ( w e and βw p ) turned out to be sensitive to UV‐C irradiation. Longer irradiation time triggered the development of microcracks, which not allowed further stable crack growth and invalidated the application of EWF approach.