A micromechanical model of crack growth along polymer interfaces

Abstract

The problem of crack growth along the interface of two immiscible homopolymers is studied where the interface is strengthened by the addition of a small amount of diblock copolymer. A micromechanical model of the interface is proposed and a time-dependent Dugdale—Barenblatt model based on this model is used to predict the fracture toughness of the interface as a function of the applied loading, the crack growth rate and the underlying interface properties.