Plastics Failure Analysis And Prevention

This book contains analysis of reasons that cause products to fail. General methods of product failure evaluation give powerful tools in product improvement. Such methods, discussed in the book, include practical risk analysis, failure mode and effect analysis, preliminary hazard analysis, progressive failure analysis, fault tree analysis, mean time between failures, Wohler curves, finite element analysis, cohesive zone model, crack propagation kinetics, time-temperature collectives, quantitative characterization of fatigue damage, and fracture maps. Methods of failure analysis are critical to for material improvement and they are broadly discussed in this book. Fractography of plastics is relatively a new field which has many commonalities with fractography of metals. Here various aspects of fractography of plastics and metals are compared and contrasted. Fractography application in studies of static and cycling loading of ABS is also discussed. Other methods include SEM, SAXS, FTIR, DSC, DMA, GC/MS, optical microscopy, fatigue behavior, multiaxial stress, residual stress analysis, punch resistance, creep-rupture, impact, oxidative induction time, craze testing, defect analysis, fracture toughness, activation energy of degradation. Many references are given in this book to real products and real cases of their failure. The products discussed include office equipment, automotive compressed fuel gas system, pipes, polymer blends, blow molded parts, layered, cross-ply and continuous fiber composites, printed circuits, electronic packages, hip implants, blown and multilayered films, construction materials, component housings, brake cups, composite pressure vessels, swamp coolers, electrical cables, plumbing fittings, medical devices, medical packaging, strapping tapes, balloons, marine coatings, thermal switches, pressure relief membranes, pharmaceutical products, window profiles, and bone cements.

Plastics failure, to a certain extent, is the result of a phenomenal increase in the number and variety of applications in relatively few years. The focus of this book is on actual field and product failures. The treatment is comprehensive, emphasizing cause and prevention. The concept of the interdependence of material, design, and processing is applied to all examples and cases. The "how to" of prevention is brought out as a logical extension of the cause of failure. Contents: Nature, Causes, and Consequences of Plastics Failure. Fundamental Materials Variables Affecting Processing and Product Performance or Failure. Failures Related to Design and Material Selection. Examples. Processing-Related Factors to Failure. Failure Related to Service Conditions. Failure Analysis and Test Procedures. Quality Control. Legal Aspects of Plastic Product Liability and Failure. Examples of Failures in Various Applications

The selection and application of engineered materials is an integrated process that requires an understanding of the interaction between materials properties, manufacturing characteristics, design considerations, and the total life cycle of the product. This reference book on engineering plastics provides practical and comprehensive coverage on how the performance of plastics is characterized during design, property testing, and failure analysis. The fundamental structure and properties of plastics are reviewed for general reference, and detailed articles describe the important design factors, properties, and failure mechanisms of plastics. The effects of composition, processing, and structure are detailed in articles on the physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Other articles cover failure mechanisms such as: crazing and fracture; impact loading; fatigue failure; wear failures, moisture related failure; organic chemical related failure; photolytic degradation; and microbial degradation. Characterization of plastics in failure analysis is described with additional articles on analysis of structure, surface analysis, and fractography.

Plastics and rubbers together make up the most adaptable and varied class of materials available to product designers. They may be transparent or opaque, rigid or flexible, lightweight, insulating, and weatherproof. They are used in almost every industry, and in every part of the home. Applications range from the humble hot water bottle to the sheathing on a high voltage cable, and from a simple scrubbing brush to a tank for storing hydrochloric acid. Products may be disposable (e.g. packaging goods) or intended to last for decades, such as a buried sewage pipe. However, it is this very diversity which makes materials selection so difficult, and appropriate design so important. Indeed the one thing that all these particular products have in common is their presence in this book of failures. Failures due to degradation may result from exposure to the weather or an aggressive operating environment. Alternatively they may be caused by the introduction of an external agent unforeseen by the product designer. They may be rapid or very slow, and they may result from a combination of factors. In this book Dr. Wright describes the following mechanisms of polymer degradation, and then illustrates each failure mechanism with a number of case studies: Thermo-oxidation, Photo-oxidation, Degradation due to ionising radiation, Chemical attack, Environmental stress cracking, Other miscellaneous effects, including treeing, electrochemical degradation and biodegradation. Many of the case studies are based on Dr. Wrights own experiences whilst working at Rapra. In each case he describes the circumstances of the failure, and discusses both the consequences of the failure and the lessons that may be learned from it. Most of the failed products are familiar to us all, and his style is both readable and informative. Photographs are included where available. The book will be essential reading for designers, engineers, product specifiers and forensic engineers. Materials suppliers and processors will also benefit from the pragmatic analysis and advice it contains. It will also be of value to all students of polymer science and technology, providing an essential insight into the practical application of plastics and rubbers and the potential problems. Finally, it will be of interest to a much broader readership, including anyone who ever wondered why things break, and it should become a standard reference work in all technical libraries. This book was written with the support of the UK Department of Trade and Industry. It is intended to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of polymer product failures, in order to reduce the future incidences of such failures, and their considerable costs to industry

This book covers recent advancement methods used in analysing the root cause of engineering failures and the proactive suggestion for future failure prevention. The techniques used especially non-destructive testing such X-ray are well described. The failure analysis covers materials for metal and composites for various applications in mechanical, civil and electrical applications. The modes of failures that are well explained include fracture, fatigue, corrosion and high-temperature failure mechanisms. The administrative part of failures is also presented in the chapter of failure rate analysis. The book will bring you on a tour on how to apply mechanical, electrical and civil engineering fundamental concepts and to understand the prediction of root cause of failures. The topics explained comprehensively the reliable test that one should perform in order to investigate the cause of machines, component or material failures at the macroscopic and microscopic level. I hope the material is not too theoretical and you find the case study, the analysis will assist you in tackling your own failure investigation case.