The influence of polyolefin elastomer(POE)content of polypmpylene(PP)／POE blends on fracture behavior has been studied using the essential work of fracture(EWF)method．Each matefial was iniected for preparing double edge—notched tensile(DENT)specimens of about 1．3 mm thickness．It was established that the essential work of fracture approach worked well for the PP and PP／POE(100／5)blend．The specific essential work of fracture

we

increased remarkab|y with adding POE．Some limitations of the EWF method was found with PP／POE (100/10 and 100／15)blends

which showed the necking phenomenon with DENT specimens studied．The specific essential work and plastic work of fracture required for yielding

we

y and β'Wp

y of each material were obtained．It was found that the We

y values of the PP／POE blends all increased remarkably

over two times larger than that of pure PP

and the β'Wp

y values increased gradually with increasing content of POE for the PP/POE blends．