Notch sensitivity

Notch sensitivity refers to the tendency of a plastic to show crack propagation at points with notches, sharp edges or sudden changes in wall thickness. This property is of crucial importance, as it provides insights into the behaviour of the material under load. Stress accumulates at these critical points, which can lead to an increased susceptibility to cracking.

Notched impact strength is measured as a measure of a material's resistance to impacts on a notched specimen. This test makes it possible to assess the material's ability to absorb energy under sudden loads without failing. Improved notched impact strength indicates greater robustness and resistance to mechanical loads, which is of great importance for many applications.