Thermoplastic moldings contain residual stresses due to differential cooling rates through the thickness of the molding. Changes in residual stress have been found to occur with time after molding due to stress relaxation. Many part performance parameters as well as part failures are affected by the level of residual stress present in a part. Residual stresses cause shrinkage, warpage, and a decrease in environmental stress crack resistance. This practice estimates the relative magnitude of residual stresses in parts produced from the series of sulfone plastics (SP), namely polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PESU), and polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) materials.
No direct correlation has been established between the results of the determination of residual stresses by this practice and part performance properties. For this reason, this practice is not recommended as a substitute for other tests, nor is it intended for use in purchasing specifications for parts. Despite this limitation, this practice does yield information of value in indicating the presence of residual stresses and the relative quality of plastic parts.
Residual stresses cannot be easily calculated, hence it is important to have an experimental method, such as this practice, to estimate residual stresses.
This practice is useful for extruders and molders who wish to evaluate residual stresses in SP parts. This can be accomplished by visual examination after immersion in one or more chemical reagents to evaluate whether or not cracking occurs. Stresses will relax after molding or extrusion. Accordingly, both immersion in the test medium and visual examination must be made at identical times and conditions after processing, if comparing parts. It is important to note the differences in part history. Thus, this technique may be used as an indication for quality of plastic processing.
The practice is useful primarily for indicating residual stresses near the surface.
