Scratch Behavior of Polymers

The apparent simplicity of scratch deformation is deceiving. The viscoelastic nature and complex constitutive behavior of polymers contribute to the complexity of the scratch testing and analysis. This article discusses how various experimental factors and material parameters influence the scratch behavior of polymers. Furthermore, significant advances have been made in the modeling of polymer scratch behavior using finite element methods, which supplements the experimental findings to offer a comprehensive understanding about how damage forms and evolves during the scratching process. This article emphasizes how the surface characteristics, material properties, and stress state and its magnitude can profoundly influence scratch damage mechanisms. By understanding the relationship between material properties and scratch behavior, the material properties needed to prevent the formation of undesirable scratch damage can begin to be assessed and even predicted. It is hoped that the information in the present article can help scientists and engineers identify the factors governing the scratch performance of polymers in order to develop polymers with superior scratch-proof properties for vast engineering applications.