FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Origin of embrittlement in Polyamide 6 induced by chemical degradations: mechanisms and governing factors BT AF Deshoulles, Quentin LE GALL, Maelenn Dreanno, Catherine Arhant, Mael Stoclet, G. Priour, Daniel LE GAC, Pierre Yves AS 1:1,2;2:1;3:2;4:1;5:3;6:1;7:1; FF 1:PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM;2:PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM;3:PDG-REM-RDT-LDCM;4:PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM;5:;6:PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM;7:PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM; C1 Laboratoire Comportement des Structures en Mer, Ifremer, Centre de Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France Laboratoire Détection Capteurs et Mesures, Ifremer, Centre de Bretagne, 29280 Plouzané, France Université de Lille, INRA, ENSCL, UMR 8207,Unité Matériaux et Transformation, F-59000, Lille, France C2 IFREMER, FRANCE IFREMER, FRANCE UNIV LILLE, FRANCE SI BREST SE PDG-REM-RDT-LCSM PDG-REM-RDT-LDCM IN WOS Ifremer UPR copubli-france copubli-univ-france IF 5.204 TC 16 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00701/81324/85689.pdf LA English DT Article DE ;Polyamide;Embrittlement;Hydrolysis;Oxidation;Tie molecules AB Polyamide 6 films were immersed in two ageing environments inducing either only oxidation or only hydrolysis of the polymer for up to two years. Ageing temperatures ranged from 80°C to 140°C. Samples were characterized periodically in terms of both chemical structure at the macromolecular scale, using SEC, DSC, SASX and WAXS, and mechanical behaviour through tensile tests. Both degradation mechanisms lead to chain scission within the polymer, an increase in crystallinity ratio, a decrease in the amorphous layer thickness and an embrittlement of the polymer. First a decrease in the strain at break is observed while the maximal stress remains unchanged. Then a drop in maximal stress is identified. Using these experimental results, both the origin of the embrittlement and the factors governing embrittlement are discussed. The decrease in strain at break is attributed for the first time in polyamide to the decrease in concentration of tie molecules determined through a theoretical approach. The loss in entanglements is associated with the drop in maximal stress. Furthermore, it is shown that the crystallinity ratio does not govern the embrittlement of polyamide. However, both the molar mass and the amorphous layer thickness are faithful indicators of this embrittlement whatever the degradation mechanism. PY 2021 PD SEP SO Polymer Degradation And Stability SN 0141-3910 PU Elsevier BV VL 191 UT 000693224200004 DI 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2021.109657 ID 81324 ER EF