Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often used in plastics failure analysis when light microscopy cannot provide images of high enough resolution. SEM images also provide higher contrast, in particular of surface textures. SEM is also advantageous with very dark surfaces and transparent materials. This book is an unrivaled comprehensive collection of SEM images covering topics such as surface properties, adhesion, joining, fracture, and other types of failure of plastic parts, which are of decisive importance for the economic success of plastics manufacturing operations.

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.

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

The growing use of polymer composites is leading to increasing demand for fractographic expertise. Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphologies and it gives an insight into damage and failure mechanisms, underpinning the development of physically-based failure criteria. In composites research it provides a crucial link between predictive models and experimental observations. Finally, it is vital for post-mortem analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components, the findings of which can be used to optimise future designs.Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites covers the following topics: methodology and tools for failure analysis; fibre-dominated failures; delamination-dominated failures; fatigue failures; the influence of fibre architecture on failure; types of defect and damage; case studies of failures due to overload and design deficiencies; case studies of failures due to material and manufacturing defects; and case studies of failures due to in-service factors.With its distinguished author, Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites is a standard reference text for researchers working on damage and failure mechanisms in composites, engineers characterising manufacturing and in-service defects in composite structures, and investigators undertaking post-mortem failure analysis of components. The book is aimed at both academic and industrial users, specifically final year and postgraduate engineering and materials students researching composites and industry designers and engineers in aerospace, civil, marine, power and transport applications. - Examines the study of fracture surface morphologies in uderstanding composite structural behaviour - Discusses composites research and post-modern analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components - Provides an overview of damage mechanisms, types of defect and failure criteria

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.

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.

The Electronic Device Failure Analysis Society proudly announces the Seventh Edition of the Microelectronics Failure Analysis Desk Reference, published by ASM International. The new edition will help engineers improve their ability to verify, isolate, uncover, and identify the root cause of failures. Prepared by a team of experts, this updated reference offers the latest information on advanced failure analysis tools and techniques, illustrated with numerous real-life examples. This book is geared to practicing engineers and for studies in the major area of power plant engineering. For non-metallurgists, a chapter has been devoted to the basics of material science, metallurgy of steels, heat treatment, and structure-property correlation. A chapter on materials for boiler tubes covers composition and application of different grades of steels and high temperature alloys currently in use as boiler tubes and future materials to be used in supercritical, ultra-supercritical and advanced ultra-supercritical thermal power plants. A comprehensive discussion on different mechanisms of boiler tube failure is the heart of the book. Additional chapters detailing the role of advanced material characterization techniques in failure investigation and the role of water chemistry in tube failures are key contributions to the book.

Industrial and domestic piping is increasingly made from various plastics and composites, and these materials withstand heavy use over long periods. They are, however, affected by environmental and other factors over time and can degrade, causing major problems within piping systems. Farshad's book deals with why plastic pipes and systems fail, and with how to investigate and diagnose such failures. Pipes may buckle, fracture, change in dimensions and colour, blister and delaminate, corrode through stress, be abraded and obstructed: all these cause problems and lead to loss of efficient operation of a system. The author's experience is backed up by a large data-base of results - Wide target audience - Only book covering the entire subject - Unique approach based on long experience

Suitable for engineers, this work presents a tool for expert investigation and analysis of component failures. It is designed-to-be-used introduction to principals and practices. It includes: 500 illustrations; pinpoints fracture type with comparative fractographs; and can be used as expert examples in reports.