Affordable. Quality. Experts.

We've assessed just about every type of plastic part failure after decades of cross-field engineering expertise. Because of this we've developed service offerings around the most common part failure problem areas we've seen. See our offerings below.

Legal Services

We are highly experienced in Expert Witness work for both Plaintiffs and Defendants in the following areas: Patent Infringement, Product Liability, Personal Injury, and Property Damage.

Analysis Services

Plastic Failure Lab’s network of testing laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Our network laboratories are accredited and/or certified.

Plastic Part Design Analysis

Plastic parts often fail because they were not designed properly. Mechanical stresses placed upon a part can cause a part to fail if the part is not designed appropriately to distribute the stresses evenly across the part. If a part contains areas where stresses can concentrate, the part will likely fail. When failure occurs, our experts can analyze the situation and provide expert witness services regarding improper part design. Our computerized part design capabilities allow us to vividly explain why a particular part failed due to improper part design.

Material Selection

Occasionally the material selected for manufacture of the part does not have sufficient mechanical strength or chemical resistance properties needed for the part to stand up to the demands of an application in which the part is being used. When failure of a plastic part occurs because the wrong material was used, out experts can explain why the material was wrong and what material should have been used to manufacture the part.

Material Contamination

In today’s world, because of global competition, many plastic parts are manufactured in third world countries. Third world countries often lack good manufacturing practices (GMP) including poor quality control (QC) practices. As a result, poor plastic part quality including material contamination, are leading causes of failure. Our experts utilize the latest forensic analysis technology including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), digital imaging technology, gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to identify root causes of failure of materials and the role material contamination and poor manufacturing practices may have played in causing a plastic part to fail.

plastic part Failure Analysis

The lab you choose makes a difference

Plastic Failure Lab’s network of testing laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Our network laboratories are accredited and/or certified.

We perform most ASTM methods on plastics including:

  • CPVC fire sprinkler pipe (ASTM F442)
  • PVC and CPVC potable water piping (ASTM F1785)
  • PEX pipe (ASTM F876)
  • PE-AL-PE pipe (ASTM F1281)
  • Chemical compatibility of plastics (ASTM D543)
  • Tensile testing (ASTM D638)
  • Composition analysis using FTIR (ASTM E1252)
  • Thermal analysis using DSC/TGA/DMTA (ASTM D3417)
  • Molecular weight analysis using GPC (ASTM D5296)
  • Shore Durometer Hardness (ASTM D2240)
  • Weatherability testing (ASTM D 2565)
  • Impact strength (ASTM D1709)
  • Filler content (ASTM D5630)
  • Additives analysis using LC-MS/GC-MS
  • Fracture surface analysis using SEM

Because our experts have extensive background in all areas of plastics, they can research and report the vital facts in any litigation involving the failure of plastic materials including PVC, CPVC, Nylon, PP, PE, PS, PC, PET, rubber, coatings, adhesives, and composite materials.

Our lead failure expert (Dr. Duane Priddy) is highly recognized for his scientific contributions to the science of plastic materials. Two of Dr. Priddy’s papers; “Why Plastic Parts Occasionally Fail” and “Why PVC/CPVC Pipes Occasionally Fail” are available to request.

Our teams of experts analyze and research every aspect of plastic failure, including the manufacturing process to determine whether the cause of failure is due to product design, improper processing procedure, material handling, or contamination. Our experts’ personal involvement in the investigations gives them the ability to report not only the facts, but the procedures used to obtain those facts.

Since our experts are world-renowned scientists and authors (as evidenced by >500 scientific papers, >100 US Patents, many books, and encyclopedia articles on plastics), our expert opinion reports are meticulously written and scientifically accurate as evidenced by many client testimonials. Please feel free to contact any of our references.

Obtain a quote for our forensic failure analysis services.

Get the Expertise You Need.