ISSN:
0021-8995
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
Three grades of poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT) were aged up to three years at 100, 75, 50, and 11% relative humidity and temperatures of 66-93°C. The decrease in mechanical properties, caused by hydrolysis, occurs rapidly at the higher temperatures and relative humidities and progressively slows as the temperature and/or humidity are decreased. Equations for making life-cycle predictions at any combination of temperature and humidity were derived from Arrhenius plots. If a 50% loss in tensile strength constitutes failure, then the PBT examined should be expected to last only three to four years at 50°C and 100% relative humidity. Reducing the humidity level to 50% extends the useful life at this temperature to 10-20 years. Predictions based on the tensile strength half-life should not be used where toughness or impact properties are important because PBT embrittles long before the tensile strength half-life is reached.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.1980.070251021
