Handbook of Plastics Testing and Failure Analysis

VISHU SHAH is President of Consultek Consulting Group, a fully integrated management and technical consulting firm for the plastics and medical industry. His 45 years of extensive practical experience in plastics Industry includes positions as president and co-founder of Performance Engineered Products and Senior Plastics Engineer for Rain Bird Corporation and Nibco Inc. His areas of expertise include product design, processing, automation, materials, rapid prototyping, tooling, failure analysis and testing.

Preface to the Fourth Edition vii

Preface to the Third Edition ix

Preface to the Second Edition xi

Preface to the First Edition xiii

Biography of Vishu Shah xv

About the Companion Website xvii

1 Basic Concepts and Advancement in Testing Technology 1

2 Mechanical Properties 17

3 Thermal Properties 93

4 Electrical Properties 117

5 Weathering Properties 139

6 Optical Properties 159

7 Material Characterization Tests 178

8 Flammability 220

9 Chemical Properties 252

10 Analytical Tests 260

11 Conditioning Procedures 270

12 Miscellaneous Tests 273

13 Identification Analysis of Plastic Materials 290

14 Testing of Cellular Plastics 308

15 Failure Analysis 328

16 Quality Control 397

17 Product Liabilities and Testing 432

18 Nondestructive Testing and Measurements 437

19 Professional and Testing Organizations 451

20 Uniform Global Testing Standards 458

Appendix A Index of Test Equipment Manufacturers 468

Appendix B Abbreviations: Polymeric Materials 475

Appendix C Glossary 477

Appendix D Trade Names 487

Appendix E Standards Organizations 491

Appendix F Links to Recommended Open Source for Quick Learning 496

Appendix G Web Resources 498

Appendix H Figure 15-5. New Application Checklist 500

Index 504