The ductile‐brittle transition of low‐density polyethylene

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Abstract
The impact behavior of a low‐density polyethylene was studied with an instrumented Charpy tester. A change from elastic or ductile response to brittle fracture was observed over a small temperature interval, usually within 1°C. This characteristic impact transition temperature (ITT) was highly sensitive to shallow, sharp notches. Whereas an unnotched test bar had a very low impact transition temperature of −94°C, a razor cut with a depth of only 5 percent of the total thickness raised it to −4°C. The impact transition temperature was effectively reduced by increasing the cooling rate during specimen preparation and by the addition of nonpolar liquids, On the other hand, impact properties were adversely affected by aging, annealing, and adding other thermoplastics.

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