The impact fracture toughness of plasticized cellulose acetate and the relationship with the secondary loss transition

The impact fracture toughness of plasticized cellulose acetate has been determined by linear elastic fracture mechanics over the temperature range 20–70°C. A major peak in fracture toughness at −10°C has been found to correspond to a secondary loss transition in the dynamic mechanical loss spectrum of plasticized cellulose acetate. At −10°C, the fracture toughness is directly proportional to the log of the maximum strain rate.