Forensics · Testing · Consulting
Plastic Failure, Testing, Design, and Expert Services
Whatever your plastic problem, a failed product, a design that needs validation, a manufacturing dispute, a CPVC fire sprinkler failure, or a material that is not performing as specified, Plastic Expert Group brings the accredited affiliate-lab network, the design and engineering team, and the expert-witness experience to solve it. One team accountable end to end, with documented chain of custody from the first inspection to final testimony.
Forensic Evidence
Pictured: Voids at the inside pipe wall
Litigation-Related Projects
Client Matters
Accredited Affiliate Labs
Start Here
Tell us who you are and we will point you to the right service.
Litigation
I am an attorney, insurer, or HOA.
Plastic product failure, construction defect, subrogation, patent, personal injury, or manufacturing dispute.
Engineering / Design
I am an engineer or product team.
Validate a design before tooling, select a material for a tough environment, or stop early field failures.
Manufacturing / Quality
I run production or quality.
Recurring warping, flash, or short shots; incoming material off-spec; a QC system that needs rebuilding.
Our Service Lines
What it is, who it is for, and the concrete deliverable.
Failure Analysis & Expert Witness
We determine why a plastic part failed and who is responsible, turning physical evidence and forensic tests into a clear, defensible failure-mechanism narrative that holds up under cross-examination.
Who it is for: Attorneys, insurers, and HOAs.
Deliverable: Expert opinion report, deposition, and trial testimony.
Learn moreConstruction Defects
Investigation of building and construction plastic failures: CPVC fire sprinkler, PEX, drain and supply piping, roofing membranes, and SPF insulation.
Who it is for: Construction attorneys, HOAs, and subrogation carriers.
Deliverable: Root-cause report with code and standards mapping.
Learn moreProduct Liability
Root-cause analysis of consumer and industrial plastic product failures: design defect, manufacturing defect, and warnings analysis, supported by state-of-the-art analytical equipment including CT scanning, NMR, SEM, FEA, and material testing.
Who it is for: Manufacturers, product-liability attorneys, and insurers.
Deliverable: Liability opinion with defect classification and evidence.
Learn moreMedical Device Litigation
Polymer failure analysis for hernia mesh, catheters, implants, and disposables, with FDA regulatory context, multidistrict-litigation and mass-tort experience, and Ph.D.-level polymer science.
Who it is for: Medical device manufacturers and mass-tort counsel.
Deliverable: Medical device failure report and deposition testimony.
Learn moreForensic Lab Testing
Stand-alone, A2LA-accredited testing with full chain of custody: FTIR, SEM/EDS, GC-MS, DSC, TGA, GPC, and mechanical testing, interpreted by polymer scientists rather than handed back as a bare number.
Who it is for: Attorneys, manufacturers, and engineers.
Deliverable: Lab report with chain-of-custody documentation.
Learn moreTesting Methods
Reference library of the ASTM, ISO, and USP methods we use across identification, mechanical, thermal, rheological, and environmental testing of plastics and polymers.
Who it is for: Anyone scoping a testing program.
Deliverable: Method-by-method guidance for scoping your matter.
Learn morePlastic Part Design, FEA, and Mold Flow Analysis
Static and dynamic (supercomputing-class) finite-element analysis plus mold fill-and-pack analysis to design parts that resist fatigue and molds with optimal gate location.
Who it is for: Product engineers and OEMs.
Deliverable: Design and mold-flow recommendations.
Learn moreMaterial Selection & Polymer Consulting
Choosing and qualifying the right resin for the service environment, before a failure happens, plus reverse engineering and service-life prediction.
Who it is for: Product teams and manufacturers.
Deliverable: Material recommendation and qualification report.
Learn moreQC System Development & Process Optimization
Scientific Molding process optimization and polymer QC systems that catch failure-prone lots before they ship.
Who it is for: Molders, OEMs, and contract manufacturers.
Deliverable: Process-optimization report and QC system design.
Learn moreExplore by Failure Type
Jump straight to the use case that matches your problem.
Plastic Failure Analysis
Root-cause analysis across all polymer families.
View use casePipe Failure Analysis
CPVC, PEX, PP-R, PVC, PVDF, HDPE, and polybutylene.
View use caseCPVC Fire Sprinkler
Environmental stress cracking and solvent-cement issues.
View use caseToilet Tank Component Failures
Connector and flush valve failures.
View use caseWater Filter Canister and Supply Line Failures
Canister design and molding defects.
View use casePEX Pipe Failures
Chlorine oxidation, bend failures, and fitting cracks.
View use casePlastic Molding Defects
Warping, flash, short shots, and weld-line failures.
View use caseMaterials Testing
A2LA-accredited polymer characterization and qualification.
View use caseCoatings & Building Envelope
Protective and architectural coatings, sealants, and waterproofing failures, from delamination to cure and compatibility.
View use caseBarrier Films & Packaging
Multilayer barrier films, membranes, and flexible packaging: seal, orientation, and permeation failures.
View use caseWire, Cable & Insulation
Polymer insulation and jacketing failures, embrittlement, and plasticizer migration into adjacent plastics.
View use caseThe Integrated Advantage
Plastic problems are multi-disciplinary, spanning polymer chemistry, mechanical engineering, manufacturing process science, and regulatory standards, often in the same case. Splitting them across a testing lab, a design reviewer, and a separate expert witness creates gaps where causation arguments fall apart. Because our team carries all of these capabilities, one firm handles the entire problem. And you do not have to wait for a failure to engage us: the same team can work alongside your in-house designers and engineers early, to predict and prevent problems before they become claims.
Worked Example
An apartment complex had CPVC fire-sprinkler leaks in four of seven buildings. Our failure analysis traced the cracking to environmental stress cracking worsened by installation-quality issues at the joints; a building-wide inspection confirmed which buildings were systemically defective; we recommended repiping those four; and when the owner retained construction-defect counsel, we served as the expert witnesses whose findings established the scope of the repipe. One team carried it from first inspection to final testimony.
Which Service Do You Need?
Not sure where to start? These are the questions we ask on a first call to point you to the right service.
- What failed, or what problem are you having?
- When was the product or system installed or put into service?
- When did it first appear, and is it getting worse?
- Has anything changed recently, materials, suppliers, chemicals, temperatures, loads, or environment?
- Do you have samples, photos, or documentation?
- Is this part of a legal matter or an insurance claim?
- Are there deadlines we should know about?
Tell us your answers and we will route you to the right service and give you a scope and estimate.
Industries We Serve
We work across construction, manufacturing, medical, transportation, energy, and aerospace. In regulated sectors we align to the governing standards, AS9100D in aerospace and ISO 13485 for medical devices, which define how testing is documented and what regulators and courts treat as trustworthy data.
Leadership
The Management Team
Our management team leads every engagement, combining polymer-science depth built at material makers including Dow Chemical, DuPont, Bayer/Covestro, and BASF, plus operational and technology leadership. Our global expert team adds more than 70 experts and affiliate specialists across 11 disciplines, so each matter is staffed by someone who has spent decades in that niche.
Dr. Duane Priddy Sr.
Cofounder & CEO
Dr. Duane Priddy Jr.
Cofounder & Chairman of the Board
Bowdie Isanhart
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Florian Koschitzki
Chief Materials Expert
Dr. Heinz Pudleiner
Chief Polymer Scientist & Head of European Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
What attorneys, engineers, and manufacturers ask before engaging us.
Trusted By Nationally Recognized Industry Leaders
Accreditations & Affiliations
Independent accredited labs across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and the Middle East
Tell Us Your Plastic Problem
Initial consultations are no-cost. Tell us your problem and we will tell you exactly what you need.
Tell Us Your Problem