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Fracture toughness of rotationally moulded polyethylene and polypropylene.

Saifullah, A., Thomas, B., Cripps, R., Tabeshf, K., Wang, L. and Muryn, C., 2018. Fracture toughness of rotationally moulded polyethylene and polypropylene. Polymer Engineering and Science, 58 (1), 63-73.

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DOI: 10.1002/pen.24531

Abstract

In this work, the fracture toughness of rotationally moulded Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) was measured using J integral methods at static loading rates and at room temperature. Two different commercially available rotational moulding grades PE and PP were tested in this study which have been used in various rotationally moulded products such as small leisure craft, water storage tanks etc. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Optical Microscope, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (solid-state NMR) and X-ray scattering were used to investigate the microstructure, fracture surfaces and compare toughness properties of these materials. In PE, higher molecular weight and broader molecular weight distribution, larger amorphous and crystal region thicknesses are found to be related to higher toughness values. High molecular weight favours higher number of entanglements that improve fracture energy and broader distribution increases long chain branching of higher molecular weight fractions which creates higher entanglements at the branch sites. Larger amorphous regions promote micro-voiding more easily compared to thinner amorphous regions, leading to greater plastic deformation and energy absorption. Higher crystal thickness also contributes to micro-voiding in the amorphous region. For PP, greater plastic deformation observed in the fracture surfaces is related to higher fracture toughness values.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0032-3888
Uncontrolled Keywords:Rotational moulding; Fracture toughness; Polyethylene; Polypropylene; Microstructure
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:27580
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:02 Mar 2017 14:20
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:03

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