Polymer Fracture

The first edition of this book had been written with the special aim to provide the necessary information for an understanding of the deformation and scission of chain molecules and its role in polymer fracture. In this field there had been an intense ac­ tivity in the sixties and early seventies. The new results from spectroscopical (ESR, IR) and fracture mechanics methods reported in the first edition had complemented in a very successful way the conventional interpretations of fracture behavior. The extremely friendly reception of this book by the polymer community has shown that the subject was timely chosen and that the treatment had satisfied a need. In view of the importance of a molecular interpretation of fracture phenomena and of the continued demand for this book which still is the only one of its kind, a second edition has become necessary. The aims of the second edition will be similar to those of the first: it will be at­ tempted to reference and evaluate completely the literature on stress-induced chain scission, now up to 1985/86. References on other subjects such as morphology, vis­ coelasticity, plastiC deformation and fracture mechanics, where the treatment was never meant to be exhaustive, have remained selective, but they have been updated.

1 Deformation and Fracture of High Polymers, Definition and Scope of Treatment. - References. - 2 Structure and Deformation. - I. Elements of the Superstructure of Solid Polymers. - II. Deformation. - III. Model Representation of Deformation. - References. - 3 Statistical, Continuum Mechanical, and Rate Process Theories of Fracture. - I. Introduction. - II. Statistical Aspects. - III. Continuum and Fracture Mechanics Approach. - IV. Rate Process Theories of Fracture. - References. - 4 Strength of Primary Bonds. - I. Covalent Bonds. - II. Bond Energies. - III. Form of Binding Potential. - References. - 5 Mechanical Excitation and Scission of a Chain. - I. Stress-Strain Curve of a Single Chain. - II. Axial Mechanical Excitation of Chains. - III. Deexcitation of Chains. - References. - 6 Identification of ESR Spectra of Mechanically Formed Free Radicals. - I. Formation. - II. EPR Technique:. - III. Reactions and Means of Identification. - IV. Assignment of Spectra. - References. - 7 Phenomenology of Free Radical Formation and of Relevant Radical Reactions (Dependence on Strain, Time, and Sample Treatment). - I. Radical Formation in Thermoplastics. - II. Free Radicals in Stressed Rubbers. - III. Mechanically Relevant Radical Reactions. - References. - 8 The Role of Chain Scission in Homogenous Deformation and Fracture. - I. Small-Strain Deformation and Fracture of Highly Oriented Polymers. - II. Deformation, Creep, and Fatigue of Unoriented Polymers. - III. Environmental Degradation. - References. - 9 Molecular Chains in Heterogeneous Fracture. - I. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. - II. Crazing. - III. Molecular and Morphological Aspects in Crack Propagation. - References. - 10 Fracture Mechanics Studies of Crack Healing. - I. Introduction. - II. Models of Adhesive and Cohesive Joint-Strength. - III. Experimental Studies. - References. - Appendix Table A. 1. List of Abbreviations of the Most Important Polymers. - Table A. 2. List of Abbreviations not Referring to Polymer Names. - Table A. 3. List of Symbols. - Table A. 4. Conversion Factors.