Rubber toughening mechanisms in polymeric materials

Abstract

The manner in which toughened polymer matrices fail under impact depends on extrinsic factors such as rate, temperature, notch, loading type and specimen geometry, and the manner of failure (crazing, yielding or a combination), and on intrinsic variables such as the microstructure of the blend and the chain structure of the matrix [1]. In this chapter, the intrinsic variables are largely examined, although temperature effects will be mentioned.