The Fracture of Liquids

Abstract

A liquid subjected to negative pressure is metastable; vapor bubbles form spontaneously and grow until the pressure of the system rises to the equilibrium vapor pressure. The rate of bubble formation is calculated from the theory of nucleation, and the negative pressure p_t that gives one bubble (i.e., fracture) in t seconds is determined. p_t is very nearly independent of t, and is proportional to ${\sigma }^{\frac{3}{2}}$ where σ is the surface tension. Subcooled liquids such as glass also are metastable under negative pressure; cracks form spontaneously and grow until the pressure rises to the equilibrium vapor pressure. Nucleation theory leads to an expression for the fracture stress of glass that is proportional to (E²σ³)^¼ where E is the elastic modulus. The transition from high temperature cavity‐nucleated fracture to low temperature crack‐nucleated fracture is examined. Fracture strengths calculated from nucleation theory agree satisfactorily with the maximum experimental values, and are an order of magnitude smaller than the forces required for simultaneous separation of all atomic bonds cut by a plane surface. The frequent occurrence of premature failure is associated with the presence of pre‐existing surface cracks in glass, and of positive contact‐angle impurity in contact with liquids.