INVESTIGATION OF DEBONDING PROCESSES IN PARTICLE-FILLED POLYMER MATERIALS BY ACOUSTIC-EMISSION .1. ACOUSTIC-EMISSION AND DEBONDING STRESS

Debonding processes in model composites under tensile deformation were investigated by acoustic emission analysis. The composites were prepa red from epoxy and polyethylene matrix filled with glass beads of vari ous sizes and with different coatings. The detected acoustic emission signals were identified as debonding processes at the filler-matrix in terphase, and are discussed as a rupture process on the basis of the W eibull probability distribution function. For the model composites, th e effect of the filler size is discussed using a theory based on Griff ith's criterion of rupture.