The effects of soft segment structure on the fatigue crack propagation of model polyurethanes.
The present work is a study of the effects of soft segment molecular weight and chemical structure on the fatigue crack propagation of model copoly (ether-urethane-urea)s (PEUU). The PEUU were synthesized using polypropylene glycol (PPG), polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the soft segment component. The number average molecular weights of the polyethers were within the range of 1000-2000. Methylene bis (4-phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and ethylene diamine were used as the diisocyanate and the chain extender, respectively. The cyclic loading experiments were carried out using a computerized film stretcher that can conduct sinusoidal operation at a constant strain amplitude, strain rate, and frequency. The Rivlin-Thomas tearing energy, T, and the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) rate were selected to characterize the fatigue behavior of the model polyurethanes. An empirical equation was applied to define the fatigue properties of model polyurethanes and to evaluate the fatigue resistance. To investigate the effect of molecular variables on the FCP, the morphological changes caused by structural differences and cyclic stress were determined using dynamic viscoelastometer (Rheovibron), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Mooney-Rivlin plot was used to determine the crosslink density variation. In addition the orientation behavior at the crack tip was characterized by IR dichroism technique using a polarized FT-IR microscope. The results indicated a reasonable relationship between the FCP rates and the hard segment content, crosslink density, and deformation property at the crack tip. However, the initial stage of phase separation and domain disruption behavior did not show a good correlation with the FCP properties of model polyurethanes. Among the model polyurethanes tested, the PEUU with PTMG (Mn = 1000) exhibited the best fatigue resistance at given test condition.
Physical testing of elastomers for cardiovascular applications.
There are presently no short-term in vitro fatigue tests available that can predict long-term in vivo performance of elastomers in physiological environments. Thus, the introduction of new and better elastomers for cardiovascular applications is hampered in the development stage by lack of data about which materials should be commercialized. After development, new materials are also slow to be used because of the lack of comparative data on current elastomers. Thus, short-term fatigue tests are being developed in three U.S. laboratories. In our laboratory, a wide variety of fatigue tests has been conducted using a constant strain fatigue test machine. In most of these fatigue tests, the strain is increased daily until failure occurs. Although blood is generally considered to be a very corrosive environment, our tests indicate that it actually extends the fatigue life of elastomers, compared with air or water environments. A combination of fatigue tests using both cut-initiated and uncut test specimens appears to provide the most predictive information.
The biostability of silicone rubbers, a polyamide, and a polyester.
A biostability test program was designed after evaluation of the relevant literature on in vivo aging phenomena in plastics and elastomers. The program comprised macroscopic, microscopic, mechanical, and physicochemical investigations. Five silicone rubbers, one polyester, and one polyamid were tested as to their aging behavior and their suitability for long-term implantation in the human body was assessed. In order to be able to state the applicability of materials used for endotheses, the various aging phenomena had to be divided into three groups, viz. unspecific, relative, and absolute indications of aging or unserviceability. Changes due to aging were found in all types of implanted plastics and elastomers. Thus, the formation of layers on inlay surfaces occurred regularly and the same would apply to changes in mechanical characteristics during the tensile test. Aging processes resulting in total unserviceability were fragmentation and crazing in the polyester and polyamide sheetings. Other aging phenomena which will easily fit into the classification given above are changes in electrical test values, protein, and lipid depositions without stronger absorptive adhesion, crystallizations on the surface of silicone vulcanizates, and chemical changes in the polyester and polyamide sheetings. Following the assessment of the materials used for endotheses, the test methods used have been evaluated with regard to their suitability for the testing of biostability.