Mechanical Behavior of Polycarbonate-Based Film Laminates During Three-Point Bend Impact

We have characterized the mechanical behavior of three commercially available polycarbonate-polybutylene terephthalate (PC-PBT) blends with and without thermoplastic film during quasi-static (1.7 × 10^-5 m/s) and dynamic (2.2 and 8.9 m/s) three-point bend loading at -30, 22, and 88 °C. The materials tested were not very sensitive to testing speed. Flexural moduli decreased 20 to 30 % with increasing impact speed for one of the blends and remained constant for the other two materials; flexural strength increased 25 to 30 % with test speed. The presence of film did not have a statistically significant effect on strength, stiffness, or energy absorption in most cases. Testing temperature was found to have the most significant effect. Flexural stiffness, flexural strength and energy absorption during 2.2 m/s impacts increased 10 to 20 % at -30 °C and decreased 30 to 40 % at 88 °C.