Plastics form an integral part of our lives and when plastic fail, our Dublin based forensic materials research, testing and inspection laboratory offers evidence based reasons for the failure. We are a long standing independent commercial laboratory offering trusted material failure investigation and testing services from our bespoke materials laboratories. Our materials failure investigation and testing services covers all materials such as plastics, metal, wood, composite, rubber and foams.
Our plastic analysis experts provide exceptionally comprehensive testing and analysis services from our state of the art laboratories equipped with the most upto date analytical equipment, capable of analysing a range of plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
One frequently occurring enquiry comes from specifiers, architects and quantity surveyors concerning issues with PVC water pipes. In particular, stress cracking in above ceiling PVC sprinkler pipes.
So what causes stress cracks to form? Environmental stress cracking (ESC) in PVC is a premature brittle failure caused by the combined action of mechanical tensile stress and chemical exposure, responsible for up to 30% of plastic component failures. It occurs when agents, such as organic solvents or high pH environments, create microscopic, sponge-like crazing, which slowly grows into cracks, typically resulting in a smooth-surface fracture with little to no deformation. The action of various chemicals upon PVC, weakens the internal molecular bonds, causing a degree of internal mechanical stress to initiate and propagate the crack. In our experience, the most common causation factor is when the PVC pipe is exposed to chemicals in, for example, paints, adhesives or sealants. Both solvents and plasticisers in particular, can degrade the PVC to such a degree, that the PVC softens
