Objective The effect of interfaces in multiphase polymers and composites upon their mechanical behaviour was investigated. A study was made of high speed crack propagation in polymethyl methacrylate toughened with 4-stage particles.The optical method of transmitted caustics can be used to follow the increases in toughness which are found on the addition of second-phase rubber particles to a polymethyl methacrylate matrix, because these particulate composites retain good transparency. There is a continuous increase in the initiation value of the dynamic stress intensity factor as the volume fraction of particles increases. The principal toughening mechanism is shear yielding which causes crack tip blunting in the composites. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences Programme(s) FP1-STIMULATION 1C - Plan (EEC) to stimulate European scientific and technical cooperation and interchange, 1985-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Address Sackville street M60 1QD Manchester United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address Iroon polytechnioy 5 15780 Athens See on map
