Solvent crazing of “dry” polystyrene and “dry” crazing of plasticized polystyrene

Abstract

Abstract The critical strain ε c for crazing of polystyrene in each of a variety of organic liquids has been measured along with the degree of swelling of the polymer by the liquid and the attendant reduction in the glass transition temperature T g of the polymer. The critical strain for the crazing in air and the T g of each of a set of specimens molded from mixtures of o ‐dichlorobenzene and polystyrene have also been determined. Correlations of ε c with T g in the two cases are identical within experimental error for the first 40°C of T g reduction; these results imply (1) that organic liquids do not exercise a significant surface energy role in solvent crazing and (2) that their only roles are associated with flow processes. Correlation of solvent crazing ε c with solubility parameter of the crazing fluid is very poor for several reasons that are discussed.