Polycarbonate Compatibility EIA 564
Polycarbonate is a highly versatile thermoplastic polymer that is commonly used in various industries due to its unique combination of toughness, transparency, and heat resistance. However, exposure to certain substances at different levels of strain and temperature can cause stress cracking or crazing of the polycarbonate material. To assess this tendency, a polycarbonate compatibility test is conducted.
The polycarbonate compatibility test is a standard procedure that evaluates the ability of a material to resist stress cracking or crazing when exposed to agents in end-use applications. The crazing and cracking are evaluated on a scale ranging from zero to five. A rating of zero indicates no crazing or cracks, while a rating of five indicates bars split into more than one piece.
The test involves exposing injection-molded polycarbonate izod bars, 64 x 12.7 x 3.2mm (2.5 x 0.5 x 0.125 in) in size, to up to 4 different temperatures and 5 standard strain levels. After annealing, the specimens are strained on jigs, and the agent is applied to the bars. The exposed and fixtured bars are then placed in different temperature ovens, with one set being kept at room temperature. An additional set of bars, both strained and unstrained, is also evaluated as controls.
After five days, the sets are removed from the ovens, and all specimens are visually inspected for crazing and cracking compared to the controls. This helps determine the tendency for substances in contact with polycarbonate to cause stress cracking or crazing of the material at varied levels of strain and temperature.
The polycarbonate compatibility test is crucial for ensuring the durability and reliability of polycarbonate materials in various industries, including automotive, electrical, and medical applications. It helps manufacturers to select the appropriate materials for their end-use applications and ensure that their products can withstand exposure to different agents without suffering from stress cracking or crazing.