When a process material fails, a failure analysis can help determine corrective action and preventative measures to avoid future failures. This paper will discuss various potential failure mechanisms for rigid PVC and CPVC piping materials in terms of their distinguishing characteristics. Failure by solvation, degradation, and cracking will be addressed with particular emphasis on cracking phenomena. Visual examples will be presented, and analytical techniques which can be used to confirm the cause of failure will be suggested.

Subject
Pipe surfaces, Materials, Piping, Crack initiation, Fracture surfaces, Crack propagation, Solvents, Stress cracking, Failure analysis, Stress, Mechanical failure, Fracture, Cracks
Keywords:
failure analysis, plastics
© 2003 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2003
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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