Adhesive Fracture Energies of Some High Performance Polymers

Abstract A fracture mechanics approach was applied to determine the adhesive fracture energy of various high performance polymers. These polymers, including both thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, generally offer higher temperature capability than conventional epoxies. Double tapered cantilever beam specimens were used for fracture tests at both room temperatures and 225°C. The adhesive fracture energies of a tetrafunctional epoxy and a phthalocyanine resin were also determined at low temperatures. Adhesive fracture behavior of polymers at high temperatures was found to depend on polymer glass transition temperature, whereas at low temperatures it was related to secondary relaxation processes in the glassy state.