EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS Polycarbonate (PC) is an amorphous (non-crystalline) plastic. PC is nicknamed “bullet-proof glass” because of its highly ductile response to high-speed impact. PC is highly impact resistant because of its “free volume” between the long chain molecules. However, the
PEX Failures Due to Manufacturing Defects
PEX tubing is manufactured using polyethylene (PE). PE is a thermoplastic. Thermoplastics soften when heated allowing them to melt and flow under pressure. Softening under high temperature causes dimensional changes (creep) to occur which is not acceptable for pipes being used for hot water as the
PEX Installation Defects
If the PEX manufacturer’s installation rules are not followed, failures can result. One of the most common installation defects is sharply bending the pipe to make a directional change. Sharply bending the tubing causes the tubing to kink. The kink in the tubing places localized stress at a spot in
CPVC Remediation From Incompatible Fire Caulk or Acoustical Caulk
When piping penetrates through a fire wall, the gap around the pipe must be sealed with fire caulk. When the penetration is not a fire-wall, generally an acoustical caulk is used to help sound penetration through the wall. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of different caulks that are used, and many
Repairing Frozen CPVC Pipes
Following the great Texas freeze disaster of 2021, most buildings suffered freeze damage to the water piping systems leading to a shortage of qualified plumbers to do the repairs. The plumber shortage caused people to seek to repair their piping systems themselves. A CASE STUDY
Water Damage From Frozen Pipes Leads to Mold
Most water pipes, including copper, steel, CPVC, and PVC will break if exposed to freezing temperatures. PEX is the only commonly used water pipe that will survive being frozen without breaking. Property losses and damage from the breaks can be huge. Repairing the pipes and drying out your home is
What is Environmental Stress Cracking and How do I Stop it?
Rigid plastics parts get their strength by the entanglement of the long polymer chain molecules that make up the plastic. Over time, the long polymer chains gradually disentangle from each other during the use of the plastic part causing the plastic part to become weaker and weaker. A CASE STUDY
Plastic Failure and Cleaning Products
Most people assume that the surfaces of plastic parts and medical devices can be cleaned/disinfected using normal cleaning products. However, many cleaners contain aggressive chemicals that can cause catastrophic failure of plastic parts. A CASE STUDY