Rupture of molecules upon fracture of adhesive joint between two polymer samples

The surfaces formed after fracture of the joint of two polystyrene (PS) samples have been studied by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The adhesive joint between samples was created by pressing them one against another and holding at a pressure of 0.8 MPa and a temperature of 80°C, which is ∼23°C lower than the glass transition temperature of PS. It has been found that, after the joint fracture, the concentration of molecule ends formed after the rupture of carbon-carbon bonds in the back-bone of the PS molecule increases.