Temperature effects on the fatigue of highly filled PMMA

The modulus and fracture toughness of an ATH-filled PMMA composite are determined as a function of temperature. The modulus can be modelled as a series addition of the two phases, giving a decreasing modulus with temperature tending to zero at 110°C. The K_1C value remains constant. Fatigue crack growth data in the form of da/dN versus K were obtained as a function of temperature and modelled using the Paris Law. The power index remained constant at 7.5, but the coefficient had a maximum at 50°C. It is suggested that this arises from microcracks generated by interparticle thermal stresses which are shown to have a maximum at the same temperature (50°C). A two-stage zone fatigue crack growth model was also applied to the data and gave a damage stress which correlated with the thermal stress and suggested a criterion based on achieving a constant energy per unit area.