Effect of temperature on the fracture surfaces of filled systems based on SKS-85 butadiene-styrene copolymer

The tear fracture surfaces of mixtures of SKS-85 butadiene — styrene copolymer (85% styrene) with ordinary (carbon black, chalk) and polymeric (Kapron and cellophane powder) fillers have been investigated on the interval from –60 to +40°C. As the temperature varies within the limits of the glassy state (T_g SKS-85=+24°C) of the filled polymer, the nature of the fracture surface of specimens of filled mixtures, like that of the unfilled polymer, changes; in the region of the temperature transition of the copolymer associated with the mobility of the phenyl groups (–10±5°C) there is a slowing of the fracture process. At temperatures below the T_g of the copolymer the tear fracture surfaces of specimens of mixtures containing ordinary and polymeric fillers differ sharply. The introduction of fillers (20 vol. %) with a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the filled polymer considerably reduces the resistance of the material to fracture and leads to a sharp increase in the rate of crack propagation; the introduction of polymeric fillers with coefficients of thermal expansion similar to that of the filled polymer leads to an increase in the resistance of the material to fracture and to a decrease in the rate of crack propagation.Moscow Technological Institute of the Meat and Dairy Industry; State Institute of Polymer Adhesives, Kirovakan. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 819–826, September–October, 1969.     

Electron diffraction investigation of the fracture surfaces of filled mixtures of SKS-85 butadiene-styrene copolymer

As the result of an electron microscope study of replicas from the fracture surface during the disintegration of samples of mixtures of SKS-85 butadiene-styrene copolymer with 20 vol.% DG-100 carbon black and chalk, in the temperature range from +60 to –60°C, it is shown that, in the region of vitrification of the copolymer and of the loss of the reinforcing effect of the carbon black, there is a sharp change in the character of the fracture micro-surface, and the particles of carbon black become the sites of additional fracture. In the region of the temperature transition of the copolymer, connected with the mobility of the phenyl groups in the same way as in the vitrification region, there is a sharp decrease in the number of particles of carbon black at the fracture surface, while the fracture surface of a mixture with chalk passes selectively along the contact boundary of a polymer with larger particles. The microstructure of the Wallner lines on the surface of a mixture with carbon black, at Tst, is made up of traces of secondary fracture, arising around the particles of carbon black.Moscow Institute of Technology for the Meat and Dairy Industry. M. V. Lomonosov Institute for the Technology of Fine Chemicals, Moscow. É. L. Ter-Gazaryan State Scientific-Research and Design Institute, Kirovakan. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 437–444, May–June, 1970.     

Polymer fractography and fracture kinetics

The fractographic method makes it possible to determine the test temperature and time at which anomalies appear in the temperature-time dependence of the strength of polymethyl methacrylate and polycaprolactam by finding the conditions of disappearance of specular zones from the fracture surfaces of these polymers. For PMMA these values are –40°C and 10^–2 sec, for PCL –120°C and 10^–7 sec, respectively.For communication 1 see [2].Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 2, pp. 232–237, March–April, 1971.     

Reversible changes in the adhesion of polymers to solid surfaces

The adhesion properties of coatings of polycrystalline hexafluoropropylene—vinylidene fluoride copolymer on steel and glass have been investigated. Coatings formed at 200–240° C suffer a reversible loss of adhesion following the diffusion of water and acid molecules to the interface, which is attributable to the mobile adsorption-desorption nature of the adhesion of this particular copolymer to steel and glass. Heat treatment at 280° C gives the coating improved resistance to the debonding action of water.Ural Scientific-Research Chemical Institute, Sverdlovsk. Moscow Institute of Fine Chemical Technology. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 1065–1070, November–December, 1968.     

Electron-microscope investigation of the type of fracture of filled polymers

An electron microscope was used to study the type of fracture of filled compositions based on SKN-40, SKMS-30, and SKS-85 polymers with TeG-10 thermal-decomposition black, DG-100 channel black, and chalk fillers. It is shown that in all the cases investigated the filled systems fracture along the polymer-filler interphase boundary.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 291–295, 1967     

Direct proofs of self- and mutual diffusion in the formation of adhesion bonds between polymers

The authors discuss experiments aimed at the direct investigation of self- and mutual diffusion in polymers. New electron microscope data are presented for mutual diffusion in the systems polyvinyl chloride — polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride — polybutyl methacrylate, and polystyrene — SKS-85. It is shown that with increase in temperature and improvement in compatibility the depth of mutual diffusion increases. The data obtained make it possible to calculate the polymer-polymer diffusion coefficient.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 446–452, 1966     

The acoustic properties of polymers with an asymmetric potential barrier at liquid-helium temperatures

The pulse-phase compensation method has been used to measure the propagation velocities of longitudinal and shear waves in polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, and polystyrene at frequencies of 1 and 5 MHz on the temperature interval 2.1–240°K. It has been established that as the temperature falls to 2.1°K the speed of ultrasound in these polymers monotonically increases, the dispersion (frequency dependence) of the speed of sound being preserved over the entire temperature interval. Two possible causes of the viscoelastic relaxation observed in the investigated polymers in the region of helium temperatures are considered.Scientific-Research Institute of Plastics, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 749–751, July–August, 1973.     

Uniaxial extension of polystyrene with a constant true stress

A apparatus designed for the extension (stretching) of yielding polymers at a constant true stress is described. The changes taking place in the general, rubber-elastic, and irreversible deformations aredetermined, together with the corresponding rates of deformation, as well as the viscosity and relaxation characteristics, during the extension (tensile strain) of block polystyrene at various constant true stresses and a temperatore of 130°C.All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Synthetic Fiber, Kalinin. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1104–1109, November–December, 1972.     

Effect of the physical state on tearing of amorphous polymers

The temperature dependence of the basic tear characteristics of deformation and failure of SKS-85 copolymer in the range from Tg to T>T_f is examined. It is established that the total work done in tearing the polymer in the brittle state is determined by the work of deformation up to separation of the specimen into two parts. In contrast to this, the total work done in tearing the polymer in the high-elastic state is determined mainly by the work of formation of the tear surface.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 71–77, 1965     

Viscoelastic parameters of certain polymers in the temperature interval 4.2–240°K

The principal elastic constants of Nylon 6, Nylon 7, Nylon 6.10, Nylon 11, Nylon 12, PVC, PMMA, polystyrene, and polyvinylfluoride have been calculated from data on the velocity of ultrasonic longitudinal and shear waves measured at a frequency of 5 MHz on the temperature interval 4.2–240°K. It is shown that at cryogenic temperatures the dynamic moduli of elasticity are, to a considerable extent, determined by the characteristics of the chemical structure of the polymers. It is suggested that the Poisson's ratios of the polymers depend on their free volume.Scientific-Research Institute of Plastics, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 604–609, July–August, 1973.     

Birefringence and ultimate strength of butadiene-styrene rubber

The authors present data on the relation between the ultimate strength and birefringence of SKS-30 butadiene-styrene rubber. Rubber test pieces were subjected to orientational stretching in the temperature interval –45 to +120°C.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 550–556, 1966     

Investigation of the adiabatic elasticity of polystyrene in the glass-transition region

Experimental results are presented for the density, absorption coefficient, and speed of ultrasound in a morphous polystyrene at frequencies of 375, 910, and 2350 kHz on the temperature interval 15–140°C. The glass-transition temperature does not depend on frequency. The adiabatic elasticity and characteristic impedance are calculated.Kolomna Branch of the All-Union Correspondence Polytechnic Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 746–749, July–August, 1973.     

Temperature reversal of the reinforcing effect of fillers

A previous investigation [4] of the tear strength of filled systems based on SKS-85 butadiene-styrene copolymer over a broad temperature interval revealed a reversal of the reinforcing effect of fillers with a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the filled polymer. At Tg the strength of mixtures containing polymer fillers [Kapron (polycaprolactam) and cellophane powder] exceeds that of mixtures containing chalk and carbon black. The temperature reversal effect is attributed to the severe weakening of the adhesion of the polymer to the surface of the filler particles as a result of the concentration of shrinkage stresses in the polymer-filler contact zone. The presence of shrinkage stresses around the filler particles at Tg is qualitatively demonstrated on model systems using a photoelastic technique. Moreover, it is shown that the unbalance, and hence the residual stresses, in filled systems at temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the filled polymer is determined by the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion.Moscow Technological Institute of the Meat and Dairy Industry. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 579–583, July–August, 1969.     

Study of the impact shear strength of polymer materials

A method is proposed for studying the dynamic strength of block polymers in terms of their resistance to impact shear. An original instrument for conducting tests are room and elevated temperatures is described. The results obtained with this instrument for alkathene and styrene carylonitrile copolymer are discussed. It is found that there is a considerable increase in specific shear energy in the region of transition from the glassy to the high elastic state. In the case of alkathene the investigated characteristic falls linearly on the temperature interval studied.Leningrad Kirov Institute of the Textile and Light Industries. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 1135–1137, November–December, 1968.     

Elasticity of the intercrystallite zones and the mechanical properties of oriented polymers

As a result of a study of the behavior under load of the elements of the supermolecular structure of oriented amorphous-crystalline polymers it is shown that the stresses on the crystallites and the amorphous zones in series with them in the direction of the chain axes are equal to the mean stress applied to the specimen along the orientation axis. The nature of the elasticity and deformability of the amorphous zones is analyzed. A relation is obtained between the strength properties of oriented polymers and the number of load-carrying chains in the amorphous zones.Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1002–1007, November–December, 1969.     

Scanning electron microscope study of the structure of carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers

The morphology and physicomechanical properties of carbonized PAN fibers (oxidized and heat-treated to 1500, 2000, and 2750°C) have been studied. It is shown that surface and internal structural defects sharply reduce the values of the physicomechanical characteristics of the carbonized fibers. The scanning electron microscope reveals the nonuniformities of the fiber over the fracture surface and makes it possible to take into account the effect of macro- and microdefects in studying fiber strength.Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Institute of Fossil Fuels, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1122–1124, November–December, 1971.     

Morphological characteristics of carbon fibers

Scanning electron microscopy has been used to study the surface, before and after thermochemical treatment, and the fracture sites of PAN carbon fibers heat-treated at 2100°C. The fractographs are analyzed in an attempt to estimate the effect of various defects on the strength of PAN carbon fibers.All-Union Scientific-Research and Design-Technological Institute of Electro-Carbon Products, Moscow Region. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 158–160, January–February, 1976.     

Properties of multicomponent polymers systems

In order to design materials having different mechanical properties combined with a permittivity of 2.2–2.6 and tg =2·10^–4-4.10^–4 at 20±1° C and 10⁶ Hz, it is possible to use compositions consisting of polystyrene, polyisobutylene and polyethylene. Projections of the three-dimensional triangular composition-property diagrams are presented for selecting the composition corresponding to spcified properties (hardness at 20 and 50° C and breaking stress and elongation).Central Scientific-Research Institute of Communications, Moscow. Moscow Krupskaya Regional Pedagogical Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 133–1135, November–December, 1968.     

Study of mechanical relaxation processes in ladder organosilicon polymers

Dynamic viscoelastic properties of ladder polyorganosiloxanes have been studied by the method of induced resonance oscillations in the temperature range from –150 to 300°C and in the frequency range from 8 to 300 Hz. Two broad maxima of mechanical losses were observed for all the polymers studied independently of their chemical structure, a low-temperature maximum in the –150 to 0°C region and a high-temperature maximum in the 0 to 250°C region. It was found that the introduction of alkyl groups into polyphenylsilsesquioxanes does not noticeably affect the position and nature of the low-temperature relaxation peaks but in certain cases leads to an increase in the dynamic modulus in polyphenylalkylsilsesquioxanes, compared with the modulus of polyphenylsilsesquioxane in the same temperature region. In the high-temperature region, a distinct dependence is observed of the relaxation peak on the length and the content of alkyl groups in the polymer. It has been found that increase in the length and the content of alkyl groups is accompanied by a shift in the peak in the direction of low temperatures and a decrease in the value of the modulus. Hypotheses have been suggested on the nature of the shifts which lead to the relaxation peaks observed in the ladder polyorganosiloxanes.Institute of Heteroorganic Compounds, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 804–809, September–October, 1973.     

Relation between the mechanical properties of polymers and the kinetic flexibility of the macromolecules

Nuclear magnetic resonance combined with extension of the specimens in the NMR spectrometer on the reversible deformation range has been used to study the cooperative modes of motion of the macromolecules in polymers, specifically polycaprolactam and polyethylene terephthalate. For each of these polymers there are two temperatures near which the nature of the molecular motion changes sharply. At low temperatures there is a transition from independent hindered vibrations of the repeating units to correlated vibrations, as a result of which the chains in the amorphous regions acquire limited kinetic flexibility within the glassy state; at high temperatures there is a transition to segmental motion. The question of how changes in the modes of molecular motion are reflected in the macroscopic mechanical properties of polymers is examined.Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 24–29, January–February, 1971.