Polymers & 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.