Temperature dependence of craze shape and fracture in polycarbonate

The shape of the craze at the tip of a loaded crack has been determined by optical microscopy for polycarbonate. The effect of temperature was examined, and measurements were made on samples of different molecular weight. In all cases the craze shape can be described to a good approximation by the Dugdale model for the plastic zone at a crack tip. The crack opening displacement depended on sample molecular weight, but was independent of temperature. Fracture toughness values deduced from the craze shape were in good agreement with plane strain fracture toughness obtained from direct cleavage fracture measurements, on the assumption that failure occurs by combined plane strain and plane stress fracture modes.