Fracture mechanics of ternary polymer blends: multiscale modeling accounting for processing induced morphologies

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Seelig
• Subject Area: Mechanics
• Term: from 2011 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 203024772

Mixtures (blends) of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) are a class of thermoplastic polymers widespread in technical applications. They feature a complex microstructure which in conjunction with microscale damage mechanisms strongly affects the macroscopic fracture behavior. While numerous experimental studies exist in the literature, the interrelation between microstructure and fracture behavior of PC/ABS blends is in the present project for the first time analyzed systematically from multiscale continuum mechanical models and numerical simulations. In the first period, valuable experience could already be gained from idealized models (e.g. periodic microstructures) and loading conditions (quasistatic, isothermal). Based on these findings, the second period will focus on more realistic (e.g. random, morphology) representations of the microstructure as well as the effects of high loading rates and adiabatic heating in the fracture process zone. Overall targets thereby are a deeper insight into the microstructure-property-relationships of PC/ABS blends and the development of reliable constitutive models to be used on the macroscopic length scale.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants