Time Dependent Fracture of.Polymers

The fracture behavior of polymers is reviewed with emphasis on the time dependent aspects of the problem. Following a delineation of the history of crack propagatior. i~vestigations in linearly viscoelastic materials, the effects of temperature and solvent environment are examined besides the special effects arising from fatigue loading. These phenomena are examined for both crosslinked and uncrosslinked polymers. Some special consideration is given to the phenomena connected with craze formation in amorphous homopolymers as well as in crystalline materials as exemplified by polyethylene. Finally, status of analytical tools and formulations of fracture problems involving non-linearly viscoelastic material behavior is delineated by means of some examples