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.

Damage to plastic products requires immediate action in often complex situations. Failure and damage analysis is then an important tool for avoiding further economic losses and in the next steps for quality assurance and product safety. In order to solve problems and develop remedial measures, basic knowledge of plastics analysis, materials and typical damage mechanisms as well as systematic approach are necessary. The book supports the reader in all these points by providing a basic insight into the systematic approach and serving as a guide for practical implementation. In particular, manufacturing and material-related aspects are also taken into account, so that a comprehensive and universal method for determining the causes of damage to plastic products is presented. Examples in the form of briefly summarized cases of damage from practical experience as a damage analyst round off the descriptions of the procedure.

Fractography in Failure Analysis of Polymers provides a practical guide to the science of fractography and its application in the failure analysis of plastic components. In addition to a brief background on the theory of fractography, the authors discuss the various fractographic tools and techniques used to identify key fracture characteristics. Case studies are included for a wide range of polymer types, applications, and failure modes, as well as best practice guidelines enabling engineers to apply these lessons to their own work. Detailed images and their appropriate context are presented for reference in failure investigations. This text is vital for engineers who must determine the root causes of failure when it occurs, helping them further study the ramifications of product liability claims, environmental concerns, and brand image. - Presents a comprehensive guide to applied fractography, enabling improved reliability and longevity of plastic parts and products - Includes case studies that demonstrate material selection decisions and how to reduce failure rates - Provides best practices on how to analyze the cause of material failures, along with guidelines on improving design and manufacturing decisions

Written in easy-to-read and -use format, this book updates and revises its bestselling predecessor to become the most complete, comprehensive resource on plastics testing. This book has an emphasis on significance of test methods and interpretation of results. The book covers all aspects of plastics testing, failure analysis, and quality assurance - including chapters on identification analysis, failure analysis, and case studies. The book concludes with a substantial appendix with useful data, charts and tables for ready reference. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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.

Ein Praxisleitfaden der Polymeranalyse für alle, die sich in Polymerlabors mit Analytik, Qualitätskontrolle oder Produktentwicklung beschäftigen. Der Autor erläutert, aus seinem umfangreichen Erfahrungsschatz, welche Probleme in welchen Situationen auftreten können. Viele Fallstudien helfen bei der Anwendung der Erkenntnisse im Laboralltag. Mit einer umfangreichen Datensammlung zu physikalischen Eigenschaften von Polymeren! (07/00)

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