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Rubber toughening of poly(methyl methacrylate). Part I: Effect of the size and hard layer composition of the rubber particles
Author(s) -
Wrotecki C.,
Heim P.,
Gaillard P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760310402
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , brittleness , natural rubber , elastomer , toughness , particle size , methyl methacrylate , nanometre , layer (electronics) , fracture toughness , polymer , copolymer , chemical engineering , engineering
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a brittle material which can be reinforced by the incorporation of acrylic particles, which do not spoil the transparency but which considerably increase the toughness of the material. In that study, we have varied the particle size and the outer layer for anchoring with the matrix. The proportion of reinforcing material is kept constant and the particles have an elastomeric core structure and a hard outer layer of PMMA. Monitoring of the two parameters, the critical stress intensity factor KIC and the critical energy release rate GIC, which are given by the fracture mechanics under static and dynamic (impact) loading, has made it possible to establish an optimum size of the reinforcement of the order of 200 to 250 nanometers. This optimum size can be explained as being the best compromise between the initiation of the damage and the control of its propagation, and that makes it possible to avoid a premature catastrophic failure. It also appears that a higher degree of grafting and a higher molecular mass of the hard layer result in an improved toughness.