Polymer materials, such as plastics and rubber, can be found in every aspect of modern life, from packaging of the food we eat to transportation of the water we drink, from composite sports gear to surgical implants and medical devices. Though polymer materials are designed to function for the lifetime of the part, these materials can break, fail, or otherwise not perform as intended. A thorough scientific analysis of the design, manufacture, application, installation, use or misuse, maintenance, and environmental exposure of polymer products can be performed in an accident or failure investigation. Analysis of polymer materials includes evaluation of the chemical makeup of the material, performance of the material when exposed to thermal, chemical, and other environmental exposure, and response of the material to mechanical loading.
Chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules that make up the world around us and the interactions that can occur between chemical species. These interactions between chemicals are found in solids, liquids, and gases and can have unexpected or unwanted effects. Analysis of the chemical makeup of a sample can be used to verify the composition of a sample (both the type and amount of individual components in a mixture), analyze an unknown material, and perform trace component analysis. Chemical analyses can also be used to determine whether concentrations are excessive, and to monitor changes in chemical composition after environmental exposure.
OTHER AREAS OF EXPERTISE: ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION | BIOMECHANICS | DESIGN ANALYSIS | FAILURE ANALYSIS | FORENSIC VISUALIZATION