A quantitative analysis of the effect of interface delamination on the fracture behavior and toughness of multilayered propylene–ethylene copolymer/low density polyethylene films by the essential work of fracture (EWF)

Abstract The multilayered propylene–ethylene copolymer (CPP)/low density polyethylene (LDPE) composite sheets were prepared by the microlayered coextrusion system. The essential work of fracture (EWF) method was firstly used to quantitatively evaluate the fracture behavior of layered materials. The experimental results indicated that the two-dimensional layered interfaces in the multilayered materials could play an important role in the fracture behavior. The specific essential work of fracture, w e , increased with the layers due to interfacial delamination. Additionally, the different testing speeds had a dual effect on the increscent trend of the specific essential work of fracture, w e , with increasing layers.