Failure Analysis and Characterization

Catalog description

This course will teach a responsible, thorough approach to failure analysis of polymer materials and products. In polymer product failure, the root cause analysis requires the engineer to consider material science (composition and degradation), mechanical design and loading, processing history, and user interaction with the product. This requires a disciplined and interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. In this course, techniques such as microscopy, FTIR, and mechanical testing will be used strategically to develop data-driven approach to failure analysis. Real case studies will be used (obtained from the literature or industry) to augment theoretical learning, and these case studies will be analyzed with regard to the quality of the investigative approach. Strong emphasis will be placed on teaching the importance of adopting proper accelerated aging theory.