Corrosion resistance of PA and PC components

The influence of two lubricating and cleaning agents and diesel fuel on environmental stress cracking of polyamide reinforced by glass fibers and polycarbonate was studied in this master thesis. Testing of environmental stress cracking was performed by the method of critical bending deformation. Bergen elliptical strain jig was used for testing. The test liquids caused varying levels of environmental stress cracking of amorphous polycarbonate, but they did not cause environmental stress cracking of glass fiber reinforced polyamide. The test method used allows testing the resistance of both materials against environmental stress cracking of any liquid. The results can be used to design products that are expected to be exposed to corrosive liquids. Quantification of the influence of stress free corrosion on the static and impact properties of polycarbonate and glass fiber reinforced polyamide was performed by accelerated test. Specimens were exposed to test liquid and an elevated temperature of 70 °C. The mechanical properties of the tested materials were significantly affected by elevated temperature exposure. The yield strength of the polycarbonate has increased and the toughness has decreased due to physical aging. The tensile strength of glass fiber reinforced polyamide has increased due to a decrease of the moisture content of the material