Abstract
The critical strains εc for crazing of polyarylate, polycarbonate, and polysulfone in a variety of organic liquids have been measured by means of three-point bending jig. The εc of these polymers were small in methyl ethyl ketone, carbon tetrachloride, and toluene. In linear alcohols εc decreased in the order of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl alcohol. In the case of polyarylate, the correlation of εc with solubility parameter of the crazing liquid was poor. The εc were rather closely correlated with the degree of swelling by crazing liquid. On the basis of these results, the solvent crazing of polyarylate could be explained on the plasticization mechanism proposed by Kambour.
