The brittle-ductile transition of polycarbonate as function of test speed

The fracture behavior of polycarbonate was studied as a function of temperature (-80°C to +80°C) and test speed (10-5 to 10 m/s) using an instrumented, singleedged, notched tensile test (SENT). SENT tests give information on the fracture stress, fracture displacements, and fracture energies of polycarbonate, and from these data the average crack speeds were calculated and the brittle-ductile transitions were determined. The fracture stress and the fracture energies of ductile fracturing samples increased with increasing test speed. The fracture surfaces were studied by scanning electron analysis, and sometimes a mixed mode fracture, part ductile and part brittle, could be seen. At high test speeds, a sharp brittle-ductile transition was observed, while at low test speeds the transition was more gradual, via a mixed mode region. This mixed mode region decreased in size with increasing test speed and was absent at the higher test speeds. The average crack speeds in the ductile region were directly related to the test speeds. The brittle-ductile transition temperature increased with the logarithmic of the test speed.