Temperature dependence of the fracture behavior of nylon 6/ABS blends

Essential work of Fracture and critical strain energy release rate analyses were used to investigate the effect of temperature (from 25 to -25 degrees C) and specimen ligament length on the fracture energy, obtained from an in strumented drop tower test, of two compatibilized nylon 6/ABS blends (40 an d 25 wt% ABS) and the neat ABS. Three types of fracture were observed: duct ile, mixed mode, and brittle. The essential work of fracture parameters wer e obtained by an analysis of the fracture energies for samples that Failed in a ductile manner. The dissipative energy density, u(d), was found to dec rease with decreasing temperature for each of the three materials, while th e specific limiting fracture energy, u(o), was found to be nearly invariant with temperature for the two blends but to decrease with decreasing temper ature for the ABS. The critical strain energy release rate, G(IC), model gi ves an excellent description of the fracture energies of samples that faile d in a brittle manner; G(IC) was Found to decrease as temperature was reduc ed. The yield stress, sigma (y), and the plane-strain critical stress inten sity factor, K-IC, were also determined. The yield stress was found to be i nvariant with temperature, while K-IC decreases as the temperature is lower ed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.