ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <title>Failure analysis of polymer and rubber components</title> <meta name="Description" content="Spectro s labs include light and electron microscopy, mechanical and electrochemical testing, chemical characterization, and fracture mechanics analysis capabilities." /> <meta name="Keywords" content="Failure analysis, polymer, rubber, Failure analysis of polymer, Failure analysis of rubber, Fourier transform infrared, FTIR, Differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, TGA, Gas chromatography  mass spectrometry, GC-MS, The scanning electron microscope, SEM, Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, EDS, Accelerated environmental exposure tests, QUV, Physical testing, Analysis of the evidence, Polymer and Rubber failure analysis" /> <meta name="audience" content="all" /> <meta name="author" content="Spectro Analytical Labs Limited, India" /> <meta name="publisher" content="www.spectro.in" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="_pgtres/stm31.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="js/search.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="js/layout.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var highlightbehavior="TD" var ns6=document.getElementById&&!document.all var ie=document.all function changeto(e,highlightcolor){ source=ie? event.srcElement : e.target if (source.tagName=="TABLE") return while(source.tagName!=highlightbehavior && source.tagName!="HTML") source=ns6? source.parentNode : source.parentElement if (source.style.backgroundColor!=highlightcolor&&source.id!="ignore") source.style.backgroundColor=highlightcolor } function contains_ns6(master, slave) { //check if slave is contained by master while (slave.parentNode) if ((slave = slave.parentNode) == master) return true; return false; } function changeback(e,originalcolor){ if (ie&&(event.fromElement.contains(event.toElement)||source.contains(event.toElement)||source.id=="ignore")||source.tagName=="TABLE") return else if (ns6&&(contains_ns6(source, e.relatedTarget)||source.id=="ignore")) return if (ie&&event.toElement!=source||ns6&&e.relatedTarget!=source) source.style.backgroundColor=originalcolor } </script> </head> <body ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="return false;"> <!---Header Start-----> <div style="width:1000"> <script language="JavaScript">header();</script> </div> <!---Header end-----> <table width="1000" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <!---Left Pannel Start-----> <td width="200px" valign="top" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> <div class="left-cover-div"> <script id="Sothink Widgets:_pgtres\40058.5140856481_PageletServer.DynamicMenu.pgt" type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2">menuleft();</script> <script language="JavaScript">left();</script> </div> </td> <!---Left Pannel end-----> <!--Start Content Pannel--> <td width="600" valign="top"> <div class="page"> <div class="text"> <h4>Failure analysis of polymer and rubber components</h4> <p><b>SPECTRO ANALYTICAL LABS LTD</b> is a leading independent consulting, engineering, and testing lab specializing in the fields of failure analysis, corrosion, metallurgical engineering, concrete analysis, coatings, Polymer & Rubber failure analysis.</p> <p><b>SPECTRO </b>s team of experienced professionals is fully qualified to investigate the causes of material failures. We also provide technical analysis, investigative research and development.</p> <p><b>Failure analysis</b> of components is critical to the environment and application to determine the root cause of a failure. </p> <p><b>Determination of the root cause of failure</b> of systems or components can be very complex, and may require multidisciplinary testing and analysis. The first requirement for success is having a full-equipped modern laboratory. </p> <p><b>SPECTRO </b>s labs include light and electron microscopy, mechanical and electrochemical testing, chemical characterization, and fracture mechanics analysis capabilities.</p> <h3>Failures can range from the following basic causes.</h3> <ul> <li>Manufacturing Issues</li> <li>Damage during Installation</li> <li>Unexpected Service Conditions</li> <li>Out of Dimensional Tolerances</li> <li>Out of Customers Specifications</li> <li>Incorrect Design</li> <li>Processing Issues</li> <li>Material Issues</li> <li>Product Misuse</li> </ul> <p><b>To more advance range of failures</b> as seen in rubber to metal or plastic parts can have a more complex root cause. In these types of applications the root cause can be more than one the above listed along with the following:</p> <ul> <li>Surface contamination</li> <li>Chemistry of failed layer</li> <li>Poor primer or adhesive</li> <li>Overheating of adhesive or primer</li> </ul> <h3>The techniques typically used in the laboratory for failure analysis</h3> <p><b>Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)</b> spectrometers record the interaction of infrared radiation (light) with experimental samples, measuring the frequencies at which the sample absorbs the radiation and the intensities of the absorptions. </p> <p><b>Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)</b> is used to determine the melt range and other thermal properties of polymers, which comprise the majority of binder for organic coatings and paints.</p> <p><b>Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)</b> is used to determine the weight loss w.r.to temperature and compositional analysis. </p> <p><b>Gas chromatography  mass spectrometry (GC-MS)</b> instrument represents a device that separates chemical mixtures, primarily organic mixtures, (the GC component)</p> <p><b>The scanning electron microscope (SEM)</b> is a microscope that uses electrons rather than light to form an image. There are many advantages to using the SEM as an adjunct to the optical (light) microscope.</p> <p><b>Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS)</b> systems are used in the characterization of materials through the use of ionizing radiation to excite a sample. </p> <p><b>Accelerated environmental exposure tests</b>, such as salt spray (fog) tests, humidity tests, and ultraviolet light <b>(QUV)</b> exposure tests can help to confirm the proposed failure mechanism of a painted or coated substrate sample.</p> <p><b>Physical testing</b> provides important characteristics of a paint or coating specimen which may reveal primary causes for the failure. Important physical tests include thickness testing, pin hole testing, adhesion testing, determination of the plane of delamination, hardness testing, surface roughness (profile) testing, Tensile and flexural characteristics.</p> <p><b>Analysis of the evidence</b>, and a review of the existing data and documentation are the final stages of failure investigation. All information is gathered and analyzed to form a determination on the mode and probable cause of the failure. Identification of the mode and cause of failure provide the source for recommendations for corrective action.</p> <p><b>A final report including all relevant data, analyses, and recommendations are compiled and presented to the client.</b></p> </div> </div> </td> <!--end content Pannel--> <!--Start Right Pannel--> <td width="200" valign="top" bgcolor="#f8f8f8"> <div class="news-div" style="width: 199px; height: 70px"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="text" bgcolor="#D5F1FF" onMouseover="changeto(event, '#FFFCD5')" onMouseout="changeback(event, '#D5F1FF')" bordercolor="#FFFFFF" style=" margin-top:5px; width:100%"> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25" id="ignore"> <font color="#800080"><b>Other Services..</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="testing.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Testing Services</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="calibration.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Calibration Services</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="inspection.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Inspection Services</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="training.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Training Services</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="environment-services.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Environment Services</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-top:1px solid #C0C0C0; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px" height="25"> <img src="images/readmore-arrow.gif">&nbsp;<a href="projects-consultancies.htm" style="text-decoration: none">Projects & Consultancies</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <!--end right Pannel--> </tr> </table> <!-- Start Footer --> <div style="width:1000"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript">footer();</script> </div> <!-- end Footer --> <!---Start Google Analytics--> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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