COMPLIMENTARY FAILURE ANALYSIS METHODS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO PLASTIC PIPE

摘要

A variety of methods can be employed to characterize failure modes of plastics and identify contributing factors. By combining visual and microscopic examination with chemical analysis, the reasons for ductile, brittle, or progressive failure may be determined. This paper provides a comparative analysis based on fractography and spectroscopic analysis of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe samples that failed due to chemical exposure. Chemical degradation and environmental stress cracking failure modes are explored using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR.