TY - JOUR A1 - Schilling, Markus A1 - Marschall, Niklas A1 - Niebergall, Ute A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Unveiling Effects of Biodiesel and Diesel on Environmental Stress Cracking of PE-HD N2 - The behavior of high‐density polyethylene with respect to resistance against environmental stress cracking (ESC) is usually regarded as an inherent material property being specific for respective types of PE‐HD and tested using standardized methods, conditions, and also standard testing liquids (usually aqueous surfactant solutions). On the other hand, for practical applications the ESC behavior of those polymeric materials, commonly used for pipes or containers, in contact with other liquids (e.g., fuels) is often of relevant interest, but for a reasonable assessment, where consistent benchmark data for a direct comparison are often missing, it is essential to determine the actually prevailing failure mode and classify it related to crack propagation or other mechanisms. Using the well‐established Full Notch Creep Test, which favorably allows for a detailed microscopic fracture surface analysis after failure, the behavior of two typical PE‐HD types for container applications is investigated in biodiesel and diesel and compared to a standard surfactant solution. This enables a clear identification of characteristic features of the interaction of biodiesel and diesel as sorptive fuels in contact with the polymer, revealing the complex interplay of sorption and plasticization as well as ESC inducing effects on PE‐HD, which could be clearly shown for both fuels. KW - Biodiesel KW - Confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM) KW - Diesel KW - Full notch creep test (FNCT) KW - Plasticization PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-650525 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.70239 SN - 0032-3888 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken (NJ) AN - OPUS4-65052 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schilling, Markus A1 - Marschall, Niklas A1 - Niebergall, Ute A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Characteristics of environmental stress cracking of PE-HD induced by biodiesel and diesel fuels N2 - In the context of the increasing effect of carbon dioxide emissions on the global climate biodiesel produced from renewable sources has emerged as a promising contender replacing fossil fuels, especially in long-range transport vehicles, using existing engines and infrastructure. High-density polyethylene is one of the prevailing materials for pipe and container applications for storage and transport of such fuels, both, from fossil and renewable resources. The contact with the respective fuels raises questions concerning material compatibility as biodiesel exhibits significant differences compared to conventional diesel fuel affecting its sorption and plasticization behavior in polyethylene. In this study, its behavior with respect to environmental stress cracking, considered one of the most frequent damage mechanisms leading to failure of polymer parts and packaging, was evaluated using the well-established Full Notch Creep Test. This approach allows for a detailed fracture surface analysis using imaging techniques, such as optical and laser scanning microscopy, as well as infrared spectroscopy. Comparing the environmental stress cracking behavior in standard surfactant solutions with that in biodiesel and diesel, respective crack propagation rates, showing different levels of acceleration, were determined and details of the underlying mechanisms could be revealed. Furthermore, the specific infrared absorption of the biodiesel’s ester functionality allows its semi-quantitative determination on the fracture surface of the tested specimens after failure. Thus, a preferred uptake of sorptive fluids in the fracture zone due to local morphological changes of the polyethylene could be directly evidenced by infrared spectroscopy. KW - Environmental stress cracking (ESC) KW - Full notch creep test (FNCT) KW - Confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM) KW - Biodiesel KW - Diesel PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-608591 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2024.108547 SN - 0142-9418 VL - 138 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-60859 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -