Survey of Relations of Chemical Constituents in Polymer-Based Materials with Brittleness and its Associated Properties

Abstract

Abstract. The property of brittleness for polymers and polymer-based materials (PBMs) is an important factor in determining the potential uses of a material. Brittleness of polymers may also impact the ease and modes of polymer processing, thereby affecting economy of production. Brittleness of PBMs can be correlated with certain other properties and features of polymers; to name a few, connections to free volume, impact strength, and scratch recovery have been explored. A common thread among all such properties is their relationship to chemical composition and morphology. Through a survey of existing literature on polymer brittleness specifically combined with relevant reports that connect additional materials and properties to that of brittleness, it is possible to identify chemical features of PBMs that are connected with observable brittle behavior. Relations so identified between chemical composition and structure of PBMs and brittleness are described herein, advancing knowledge and improving the capacity to design new and to choose among existing polymers in order to obtain materials with particular property profiles.

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Influence of the Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Properties on the Wear Behavior. A Review

“…Overall, oxidative degradation has been demonstrated to lead to significant changes in the mechanical properties of UHMWPE and, in particular, to embrittlement. Brittleness of polymers is well known to be correlated to the tensile properties [ 25 , 26 ]. Accordingly, an increase in elastic modulus and a decrease in the elongation to failure, ultimate stress and toughness has been demonstrated by a number of studies [ 27 , 28 , 29 ] ( Figure 2 ); moreover, a decrease in fatigue crack propagation resistance has also been observed [ 20 , 30 ], while an often dramatic decrease in wear resistance ( Figure 3 ) has been demonstrated by multiple in vitro and retrieval studies [ 22 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Nascent particle sizes and degrees of entanglement are responsible for the significant differences in impact strength of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene

“…The larger elongation at break of GUR 4150 indicates that its molecular chains were more flexible. Moreover, the elongation at break is inversely proportional to brittleness, as illustrated by Brostow et al; in turn, the brittleness of a material is inversely proportional to its impact strength. Therefore, a larger elongation at break could correspond to higher impact strength, as reflected herein [cf.…”

Effect of Polypropylene Modification by Impregnation with Oil on Its Wear and Friction Coefficient at Variable Load and Various Friction Rates

“…In should be also mentioned that load can influence temperatures of viscoelastic transitions in polymers and thus their wear mechanism. Viscoelastic behaviour of polymers is also connected with the relation between linear velocity and friction coefficient and, as shown by Brostow et al, [4,30,31] Figure 11: Effect of sliding velocity on worn surfaces of PA 6.6 tested at various sliding velocities: ((a) and (b)) cracks, small parallel scratches, and wear products pressed in the specimen surface, (c) sparse overlaps of the material, (d) zone with scaly structure, formed of "roll-shaped particles," and (e) magnified "roll-shaped particles," SEM.…”