Polymer and Plastic Testing
EAG offers a complete range of analyses for polymers, plastics and composites. These materials can be found in a wide variety of industries, including medical devices, sporting goods, toys, industrial products, construction materials, consumer goods and more.
- Looking for a plastic testing lab?
- Problems with polymer product failure?
- Do you need to identify additives?
- Looking to characterize a competitor’s product?
- Questions of infringement of a patented product?
We have extensive experience in plastic and polymer analysis and processing. Our polymer and plastic testing experts have investigated a wide range of polymeric materials, including:
- Thermoplastics
- Thermosets
- Elastomers
- High-performance polymers
- Specialty polymers
- Rubbers
- Composites
- Polyurethanes
- Adhesives & sealants
- Paints & coatings
In our labs, we use analytical instrumentation such as FTIR, GC/MS, GPC, LC/MS, Optical Microscopy, NMR, SEM/EDS, mDSC, XPS, ToF-SIMS and Pyrolysis-GC/MS. Our experts have years of experience interpreting this data to investigate challenges such as:
- Contaminant or impurity identification
- Analysis of raw materials
- Comparison analysis
- Compositional analysis
- Deformulation (reverse engineering)
- Suspected failures
- Identification of suspect materials
- Off-odor, off-color problems
- Product failures
Our polymer analysis and testing capabilities range from obtaining basic information to more detailed and structurally specific results. Depending on our clients’ needs, we can offer a strategic combination of physical and chemical testing to answer specific questions. Physical properties analyzed have included:
- Tensile properties
- Adhesive strength
- Compressibility
- Cross-sectional multiple layer-film thickness
- Thermal properties (including glass transition, melting point, thermal expansion and crystallinity)
Services for testing plastics and polymer materials for chemical properties include:
- Molecular weight distribution
- End group analysis
- Co-polymer backbone chemistry, co-monomer contents/ratios, polymer blends
- Additive and resin identification
- Testing plastics for tensile, modulus and elongation
- Chemical family, including base polymer characterization
Plastic and Polymer Testing Services:
- Deformulation
- Materials Analysis & Identification
- Contaminant Identification
- Failure Analysis
- Physical Testing
- Method Development
- Consulting
- Patent/Litigation Support
Plastic Testing Case Studies:
Heat Seal Adhesive Failure Analysis
Our client’s new heat seal adhesive was not providing a hermetic seal and released after only a few days. Faced with production line shut-down and delayed shipments, the customer called EAG. They suspected that the new adhesive’s formula, a polyurethane-acrylic hot melt adhesive, was the reason for the failure. Our expert chemists deformulated both the old formula and the new formula. The results showed significant differences in the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, as well as the urethane-acrylic ratio. After concluding that these variations were the reason for the adhesion failure, we recommended a formula adjustment. The revised formula performed well, and the customer was able to resume operations.
The Sky is Falling
A manufacturer of light fixtures received complaints about fluorescent tubes falling out of overhead light fixtures. The failed fixtures showed large fractures in the plastic components that held the fluorescent tubes in place. There was also a white powdery residue on the plastic components. Our scientists identified the white residue, confirmed the composition of the failed plastic components and in discussions with the manufacturer, determined that the white residue was from chemicals used in the facility where the failures occurred. The chemical giving the white residue was reacting with the plastic components and breaking down the structure of the polymer. This information helped the manufacturer take proper corrective action.
Plastics & Polymers Industry Links:
Would you like to learn more about Polymer and Plastic Testing?
Contact us today for your polymer and plastic testing needs. Please complete the form below to have an EAG expert contact you.