Crack propagation in PE-HD induced by environmental stress cracking (ESC) analyzed by several imaging techniques

Destructive techniques which require a direct view on the free fracture surface, such as light microscopy and laser scanning microscopy, are compared to non-destructive techniques, i.e. scanning acoustic microscopy and x-ray micro computed tomography. All methods allow the determination of an effective crack length. Based on a series of FNCT specimens progressively damaged for varied durations under standard test conditions, the estimation of crack propagation rates is also enabled. Despite systematic deviations related to the respective imaging techniques, this nevertheless provides a valuable tool for the detailed evaluation of the FNCT and its further development.