Role of the Entanglements and Bond Scission in High Strain-Rate Fracture of Polymer Melts

ORAL

Abstract

We present coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of the effects of solvent molecular weight on the toughness of entangled and non-entangled polymer gels. Our results demonstrate that higher molecular weight solvents enhance gel toughness, and that mechanical properties including strength and toughness can be related to bond scission. We find a remarkable two-step gel fracture mechanism: network chains undergo scission first (and well before fracture), followed by scission of solvent chains. Even after the network chains break, long highly entangled solvent chains provide fracture resistance by effectively increasing the number of chains that must be broken as a crack propagates

*Work performed by Bowhead Science \& Technology LLC and University of South Florida was funded by the Army Research Laboratory under contracts

–

Authors

  • Yelena Sliozberg

    • Bowhead Science and Technology LLC

  • Robert S. Hoy

    • University of South Florida
    • Department of Physics, University of South Florida

  • Randy Mrozek

    • Army Research Laboratory

  • Joseph Lenhart

    • Army Research Laboratory

  • Jan Andzelm

    • Army Research Laboratory
    • U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate