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Title: Manipulating Polymer Connectivity to Control Interfacial Fracture

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
OSTI ID:10189

By studying model polymeric networks which only differ in their connectivity, the connectivity is shown to strongly control the stress-strain response and failure modes. The sequence of molecular structural deformations that lead to failure are strongly dependent upon the network connectivity. A set of ideal, ordered networks are constructed to manipulate the deformation sequence to achieve a variety of adhesive qualities. Compared to random, dynamically formed networks, these ideal networks can be made to have either much larger or smaller failure stresses and strains. Unlike the random networks, the failure stress of an ideal network can be made close to the ideal stress equal to breaking all bonds to the substrate. By varying the number of bonds to the surface, the failure mode can be controlled to be either adhesive or cohesive.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
10189
Report Number(s):
SAND99-2175J; TRN: AH200125%%304
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Other Information: Submitted to Physical Review Letters; PBD: 23 Aug 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English