Fracture behavior and deformation mechanisms of polypropylene/ethylene-propylene-diene blends

Abstract

Abstract The fracture behavior and deformation mechanism of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) were studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The deformation mechanism was investigated under different conditions. Voids were seen under all the conditions because of matrix shear yielding, indicating that rubber particle cavitation took place during the blend fracture process; moreover, the void size and density increased as the fracture surface was approached. However, the void density and extent of elongation of the rubber particles in the deformation zone decreased with increasing test speed rate. Many voids were positioned in the rubber particles, confirming that matrix shear yielding initiated by rubber particle cavitation was the main deformation mechanism during ductile fracture in the matrix.