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What Can Weaken Plastic?
The most common cause of plastic parts to weaken is exposure of the plastic to sunlight. Plastics consist of long polymer chain molecules...
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The strength of plastics decreases at cold temperatures. For example, polycarbonate (PC) is an extremely tough plastic at normal use temperature and is sometime used as “bullet-proof glass”. However, at very cold temperatures (-40F), PC becomes brittle and will shatter like regular glass if struck at high impact speed. Every plastic has a ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) at which the plastic becomes brittle and shatters upon high-speed impact. The DBTT varies depending upon the plastic. Generally, as plastic parts age, the DBTT temperature increases.
A CASE STUDY
The following case study is the property of Plastic Expert Group and cannot be copied or distributed without prior permission. Our case analysis does not imply that this specific plastic failure will happen systematically. Every case is unique and should be treated accordingly.
PROBLEM: AT WHAT TEMPERATURE DOES PLASTIC BECOME BRITTLE?
The strength of plastics decreases at cold temperatures. For example, polycarbonate (PC) is an extremely tough plastic at normal use temperature and is sometime used as “bullet-proof glass”. However, at very cold temperatures (-40F), PC becomes brittle and will shatter like regular glass if struck at high impact speed. Every plastic has a ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) at which the plastic becomes brittle and shatters upon high-speed impact. The DBTT varies depending upon the plastic. Generally, as plastic parts age, the DBTT temperature increases.
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Plastic Skylight Breaking Causing Injury
A CASE STUDY The following case study is the property of Plastic Expert Group and cannot be copied or distributed without prior...
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Does Plastic Ever Go Away?
Generally, it takes many decades for plastics to degrade in the environment. Plastics degrade by oxidation and hydrolysis. Oxidation and...