Polymers & Advanced Materials Failure Analysis

Stork Failure Analysis for Polymeric and Advanced Materials

The term polymer refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a variety of properties and purposes. Natural polymer materials include shellac, amber, cellulose, and biopolymers like hair, skin and part of the bone structure. Synthetic polymers include Bakelite, neoprene, nylon, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile and PVB (polyvinyl butyral).

Polymers and advanced materials have replaced other traditional materials in innumerable applications, and like other materials, an unexpected failure can be costly, even catastrophic.

Polymer and Advanced Materials Failure Analysis

Failure Analysis for advanced and polymeric materials

Stork Materials Technology experts are experienced in conducting failure analyses of a wide range of advanced materials, including:

Plastic failure analysis
Composite failure analysis
Rubber failure analysis
Adhesives and sealants failure analysis
Paints & coatings failure analysis

Different materials, different failure mechanisms, different methodologies

Failure analysis of polymeric materials offers a unique challenge because while the basic failure analysis sequence remains the same, the fractographic interpretation and analytical testing is very different from that used on metallic materials.

Combination of properties and factors cause failure

The 3 most important properties of polymeric materials in a failure analysis tend to be: composition, molecular weight and structure, and the inherent visco-elastic nature of macromolecules. The failures associated with these materials are often the result of a wide variety of mechanisms and factors, such as:

Exposure to chemicals (environmental stress cracking, chemical contact)
Contamination
Adverse environmental conditions in service (temperature, humidity, UV exposure)
Molecular degradation (molding process, service conditions)
Molding defects (inclusions, voids, knit lines)
Stress concentration (design features, defects)
Rapid Deformation (impact, snap fit assemblies)
Extended Time Under Stress / Creep
Fatigue Loading

Finding the cause of the failure

The failure analysis process begins with the determination of how and why the part failed. The real answer is provided in what can be done to prevent future occurrences. Stork Materials Technology experts understand this and provide real-life solutions to challenges related to polymeric materials.

Stork locations offering Failure Analysis Services for Polymeric and Advanced Materials, Parts, and Products:

Stork Technimet, Inc. - New Berlin, WI

Stork Twin City Testing Corporation - St. Paul, MN

Articles and case studies available for downloading for Failure Analysis Services for Polymeric and Advanced Materials, Parts, and Products: