Stress‐Cracking of high density polyethylene in detergents

Correlations of the stress intensity factor, KI, with crack speed, ċ, have been obtained in a number of detergent solutions each having different detergent concentration. A constant crack speed region was observed in high density polyethylene. The KI independent constant crack speed was found to vary linearly with detergent concentration. The viscosity of the detergent solution increases with concentration and hence this region is not controlled by the hydrodynamic properties of the environment in contrast with Williams' model. The KI‐ċ data were compared with existing models of crack propagation. Copyright © 1987 Society of Plastics Engineers