Determination of fracture toughness of poly(ethylene terephthalate) film by essential work of fracture and J integral measurements

The plane stress fracture toughness of a semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film of thickness 0.125 mm has been measured as a function of specimen size, specimen geometry, loading rate, and temperature using the essential work of fracture (EWF) approach, It was found that the specific essential work of fracture w(e) was independent of specimen width, specimen gauge length, and loading rate, but was dependent upon specimen geometry and test temperature. Below the glass transition temperature (93 degreesC), it,, for double edge notched tension (DENT) type specimens was temperature insensitive, but increased with temperature for single edge notched tension (SENT) type specimens. The w(e) value for SENT specimens was consistently higher than for DENT specimens. Estimation of w(e) via crack opening displacement was reasonable using the relationship w(e) = sigma (n)e(0,y); estimations made via similar type equations were either too high or too low and were generally unsatisfactory. It was found that values of J integral obtained by power law regression and linear extrapolation of the J-R curves to zero crack growth were lower than w(e). The power law regression of the J-R curves with Deltaa taken as half the crack opening displacement value at maximum load gave J(c) values which agreed reasonably well with it,,. (C) 2001 IoM Communications Ltd.