Material propertiesInfluence of biodiesel sorption on temperature-dependent impact properties of polyethylene

In a previous paper we investigated the influence of sorbed biodiesel or diesel on mechanical properties of a typical polyethylene grade for tank applications. Besides the basic sorption and desorption behavior of these two fuels, the study addressed the concentration-dependent mechanical properties as revealed by a non-instrumented Charpy impact test and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). In the present paper we extend this investigation focusing on the temperature-dependent impact fracture behavior. Therefore, an instrumented Charpy impact test was employed, allowing a more detailed analysis of the fracture behavior. Furthermore, from the load-time-diagrams obtained from the instrumented impact test, corresponding fracture times can be calculated, allowing a clear correlation of the fuel sorption induced changes in fracture toughness with the enhanced β-relaxation observed by DMA. As in the previous study, the fracture surfaces of the impact tested specimens were analyzed in order to confirm the brittle or ductile character of the fracture indicated by impact strength and the corresponding load-deflection diagrams.