Crazing is a deformation phenomenon peculiar to glassy polymers. If you have ever bent a clear plastic ruler and seen it turn white, then you have seen crazes. It is important not only because it reduces the transparency of clear polymers, but also because it is a precursor to fracture.
Crazes are micro-voids in the polymer, similar to cracks, but spanned by highly oriented polymer fibrils. The presence of environmental agents such as organic solvents speeds up craze formation either by plasticising the polymer, or by lowering the surface energy required to form the voids.
A micrograph of a craze in polystyrene
We have investigated many aspects of crazing by using a wide range of well-characterised polystyrenes.
Carry on to Crazing research, or go back to Glassy Polymers.
Relevant publications in the area of crazing.
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