• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Plastic Expert Group

Materials Testing & Plastic Consultants

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • SERVICES
    • Overview
    • Plastic Failure
    • Pipe Failure Analysis
    • Injection Molding Defects
    • Materials Testing
    • CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping
  • LEARN
  • CONTACT US

Categories

At What Temperature Does Plastic Become Brittle?

You are here: Home / Plastic Failure Analysis & Testing / At What Temperature Does Plastic Become Brittle?

June 24, 2022

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.

brittle plastic breaking

Plastic Expert Group & Failure Labs Copyright © 2025 Toll Free USA: (877) 668-4345   •   International: +1 (989) 281-4465

www.plasticpipefailure.com   •   www.plasticfailure.com

Plastic Failure Services:  Molding Defects   •   Pipe Failure Analysis   •   Materials Testing Consultants   •   Plastic Failure   •   PEX Failure   •   Polymer Consulting

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}