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Failure Mechanisms
Polymers

· In Polymeric samples, macromolecules can span the fracture crack forming a "Craze." These molecules are pulled from the bulk polymer on either side of the crack surface as illustrated.
· The molecular alignment in the craze is high and these "bridges" across the crack increase the energy required to cause crack growth, effectively increasing the crack surface energy.

From: Courtney, "Mechanical Behavior of Materials,"
McGraw Hill (1990)
· The craze has a large void volume, making the craze a region of low density. Crack tip stress concentration causes the craze region to propagate normal to the maximum tensile stress direction.