Failure analysis of the propylene parts used in trucks

Abstract

© 2020 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland. The paper provides the results of failure analysis of the air intake pipe in the truck compressor. The thermal studies were carried out to identify a material, and to analyze the thermal oxidative degradation caused by excessively high operating temperatures. The study of the vehicle component part showed that it was made from polypropylene block copolymer. Analysis of the thermo-physical properties of the warranty polypropylene part showed that the thermal degradation led to a higher polymer crystallization and, as a result, a lower molecular mass due to high temperatures. The results of the thermal studies showed that the polypropylene part was subjected to excessively high operating temperatures which caused the thermal degradation and, as a result, catastrophic failure of the material.