REAL-TIME STUDY OF FAILURE EVENTS IN POLYMERS .2. INFLUENCE OF POLYCARBONATE-POLYESTER MORPHOLOGY ON THE FAILURE MICROMECHANISMS

Real time observations of submicrometre scale failure mechanisms of in jection moulded multiphase blends are extremely difficult to perform. This has been accomplished using a specially designed tensile fixture and sample preparation techniques for a polycarbonate-polyester blend. Blunt or sharp cracks could be developed in the blend which were depe ndent on the shape of the polyester domains. Their initiation and prop agation mechanisms have been examined at the submicrometre and bulk sc ales. The failures observed in the thin-sections were similar to failu re mechanisms observed in the bulk.