Irradiation of polymers for photoelastic investigations

The photoelastic behaviour of transparent polymers is studied with the objective to learn more about the correlations between molecular structure, mechanical properties, and stress-optical sensitivity on the one hand and to improve the fixation process by radiation at room temperature for practical purposes on the other hand. The fixation of three dimensional states of deformation allows the analysis of special states of elastic stresses even in the interior of complex constructional units and machine parts. As a continuation of former work, the polymeric system consisting of a well-known epoxy resin and maleic anhydride has been modified by the addition of mono- and polyfunctional acrylates and of an inhibitor to protect the reactive double bonds. Preliminary results are presented. This work is part of the Austrian contribution to an international co-operation between scientists from Hungary, Croatia and Austria.