# Mechanical Performance of Polymer Materials for Low-Temperature Applications
###### Abstract  
The present study investigates the strain-rate-dependent mechanical performances of three different kinds of polymers in low-temperature applications, including plastic piping systems. Recently, lightweight constructions have been increasingly used in ship and offshore structures because using low-density materials reduces the structural weight of products. However, most of the existing research outcomes have not focused on low-temperature applications. In the present study, the mechanical and failure characteristics of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which are the most widely used in ship and offshore industries, were tested under low-temperature conditions. The quasistatic tensile stress-strain responses of the polymers were observed at rates of \(10^{-2}\), \(10^{-3}\), and \(10^{-4}\) s\({}^{-1}\). As the temperature decreased, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of tested polymers increased. The fracture strain and modulus of toughness of ABS were considerably lower than those of PE and PVDF at room and low temperatures. When compared with mechanical properties, PVDF displayed superior capability, and each polymer showed different fracture surface characteristics, such as ductility and brittleness. The quantitative material properties tested at various temperatures and strain-rates can be used as material information for the finite element (FE) analysis and material parameters for the development of advanced constitutive models. xy 2022  
has steadily increased in recent years [2; 3; 4]. In the transport field, various polymer materials have been extensively adopted in plastic piping systems, such as refrigeration, ballast system, and seawater drain, depending on material characteristics such as chemical resistance, temperature resistance, and flexibility for assembly. Moreover, from the lightweight aspect, researchers have attempted to extensively investigate polymer and composite pipes under low-temperature environments to replace conventional low-temperature metallic steel pipes. A representative application field of polymer and composite materials in low-temperature environments is in pipes for liquefied natural gas, which is stored and transported at \(-163\)\({}^{\circ}\)C [5; 6]. The growth of natural gas consumption is expected to exceed that of fossil fuels because natural gas has more favorable environmental and practical attributes. In addition, another issue is the Arctic shipping routes. They connect the world's largest economies in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via more profitable, shorter, faster, and thus more environmentally friendly trade routes than conventional shipping lanes. Icebreakers--special-purpose ships designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters in the Arctic Ocean--have been exposed to risks such as freezing and bursting of pipes in extremely cold regions. Accordingly, setting clear criteria for the application of plastic materials to a pipe system is necessary. In addition, the investigation of material characteristics of polymer materials depending on application environments is required. For these reasons, investigating the mechanical and failure characteristics and confirming them at the design stages is important to adapt to low-temperature environments and ensure the ability of polymer materials to withstand low-temperature conditions from the lightweight aspect. The mechanical behavior of polymers is significantly influenced by the strain rate, according to several research findings from the previous decades. [PERSON] et al. reported polypropylene's strain-rate-dependent deformation behavior. The tensile tests were conducted at six different strain rates: (\(1.15\times 10^{-3}\), \(1.15\times 10^{-2}\), \(1.15\times 10^{-1}\), \(1.15\times 10^{2}\), and \(1.15\times 10^{3}\) s\({}^{-1}\)). The tensile strength exhibited an increasing trend with the increasing strain rate under the conditions adopted for the strain rate [7]. [PERSON] et al.