Prediction of impact properties of polyolefin foams

The mechanical response of PP foam at a wide range of strain rate was inves tigated. The linear and non-linear viscoelastic behavior was analyzed. The material was tested with creep and dynamic-mechanical experiments and the c orrelation between strain rate effects and viscoelastic properties of the f oam was obtained using viscoelasticity theory and separating strain and tim e effects. A scheme for the prediction of stress strain curve at any strain rate was developed introducing a strain rate dependent scaling factor. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.