Abstract
Binary blends of polyamide-6 (PA-6)/polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) and PA-6/low density polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (LDPE-g-MA) were prepared with varied concentration (0–30 wt%) of maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefinic (PP) moiety as the impact modifier. The microstructural attributes and thermal properties of the blends were characterized by WAXD, FTIR, SEM, DSC, and TGA. The WAXD/DSC studies have revealed that the crystallinity of the blends decreased with the increase in the PP modifier whereas the onset of degradation temperature remained nearly unaffected. Comparative assessment of the crack toughness behavior of the blends has been carried out following the essential work of fracture (EWF) approach based on post-yield fracture mechanics (PYFM) concept. The kinetics of crack propagation of the blends has been discussed in the realms of structural and compositional parameters. An enhancement in the toughness (resistance to stable crack propagation) as indicated by a maximum in the non-EWF (βw p) values have been observed at 10 and 20 wt% followed by a sharp and consistent drop in the composition regime of 10–20 and 20–30 wt% of PP-g-MA and LDPE-g-MA, respectively; conceptually implying possible ductile-to-semiductile transitions in the blend systems. The equivalence of PYFM–EPFM fracture parameters have been discussed following inequality criterion. Fractured surface morphology investigations revealed that the failure mode of the blends undergo a systematic transition from matrix-controlled homogeneous flow/deformation in the PP/polyamide phase to blend composition-dependent changes in the modes and extent of fibrillation via cavitation and shear-banding mechanisms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kinloch AJ, Young RJ (1983) Fracture behaviour of polymers. Applied Science Ltd, London
Williams JG (2001) In: Moore DR, Pavan A, Williams JG (eds) Fracture mechanics testing methods for polymers, adhesives and composites. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 123
Mai YW, Cotterell B (1986) Int J Fract 32:105
Bárány T, Czigány T, Karger-Kocsis J (2010) Prog Polym Sci 35:1257
Chen H, Wu J (2007) Macromolecules 40:4322
Williams JG, Rink M (2007) Eng Fract Mech 74:1009
Kayano Y, Keskkula H, Paul DR (1998) Polymer 39:2835
Kohan MI (ed) (1995) Nylon plastic handbook. Hanser Publishers, Munich
Pegoretti A, Ricco T (2006) Eng Fract Mech 73:2486
Chiou KC, Wu SC, Wu HD, Chang FC (1999) J Appl Polym Sci 74:23
Chiou KC, Chang FC (2001) Polym Eng Sci 41:1007
Lievana E, Bernal C, Frontini P (2004) Polym Eng Sci 44:1707
Huang HJ, Xie BH, Yang W, Shen YX, Yang MB (2010) J Macromol Sci Part B 49:231
Okada O, Keskkula H, Paul DR (2000) Polymer 41:8061
Heino M, Hietaoja P, Seppala J, Harmia T, Friedrich K (1997) J Appl Polym Sci 66:2209
Ozkoc G, Bayram G, Bayramli E (2008) J Mater Sci 43:2642. doi:10.1007/s10853-008-2483-7
Balamurugan P, Maiti SN (2008) Polym Test 27:752
Pressly TG, Keskkula H, Paul DR (2001) Polymer 42:3043
Reimschuessel HK (1977) J Polym Sci Macromol Rev 12:65
Das A, Satapathy BK (2011) Mater Des 32:1477
Van der Wal A, Mulder JJ, Gaymans RJ (1998) Polymer 39:5477
Socrates G (2001) Infrared and Raman characteristic group frequencies, chaps 9, 10 and 21, vol 10. Wiley, New York
Hill RH (1952) Mech Phys Solids 1:19
Lach R, Schneider K, Weidisch R, Janke A, Knoll K (2005) Eur Polym J 41:383
Zhurkov SN, Kuksenko VS, Petrov VA (1984) Theor Appl Fract Mech 1:271
Hashemi S, Williams JG (2000) Plast Rubber Compos 29:294
Chen YH, Mai YW, Tong P, Zhang LC (2000) In: Williams JW, Pavan A (eds) Fracture of polymers, composites and adhesion, ESIS Publication 27. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 175
Arkhireyeva A, Hashemi S, O‘Brien M (1999) J Mater Sci 34:5961. doi:10.1023/A:1004776627389
Acknowledgements
Authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Sunil Kumar, research scholar at CPSE IIT Delhi, India for his help in measurements on a GOM-ARAMIS system. ND gratefully acknowledges the scholarship (Senior Research Fellowship) support by UGC, New Delhi, India to carry out this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dayma, N., Das, D. & Satapathy, B.K. Kinetic and structural interpretations of post-yield crack resistance behavior of polyamide-6/polyolefin-g-maleic anhydride blends. J Mater Sci 47, 4860–4875 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6348-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6348-8