Degradation Failure of Plastics (2023)

Plastic materials offer a unique balance of strength and ductility associated with their inherent viscoelastic nature. However, they are susceptible to molecular degradation through a variety of exposures. Molecular degradation is a permanent change in molecular weight that reduces the mechanical properties and integrity of the plastic material. This degradation can occur during compounding, processing, storage, or while in service. Such degradation mechanisms include:

• Thermal Oxidation
• Hydrolysis
• Ultraviolet Radiation
• Chain Scission
• Destructive Crosslinking

The various forms of molecular degradation account for approximately 20% of plastic part failure, and understanding the nature of degradation can help prevent failure. Topics covered during this session will include:

• Introduction to plastic molecular degradation, including the various mechanisms
• Material susceptibility to degradation
• Stabilizers to prevent degradation
• Testing to assess the level of degradation

Register here: Degradation Failure of Plastics