Page 470 - Handbook of Materials Failure Analysis

468 CHAPTER 17 Application of pyrolysis

RT¼11.83 min) were assigned to silicone gum, while the peaks of benzene (peak 2,
RT¼7.76 min) and styrene (peak 5, RT¼10.26 min) were formed as a result of
pyrolysis of polystyrene (PS).
The identified residue on the surface of the valve block unit was obviously the
cause of failure of the medical oxygen resuscitation device.

4 CONCLUSION
Analytical Py-GC/MS has been proven as a valuable technique for analysis and iden-
tification of polymeric materials in the failure analysis of materials used in the chem-
ical, rubber, and automotive industries. SEM allows the exact localization of damage
of components from engineering and automotive industry. The extraordinary depth
of sharpness provides deeper insights into cracking propagation and mechanical fail-
ure aspects, for example, brittleness, filler- or fiber-matrix adhesion, or stress-
corrosion cracking. The used analytical techniques allow the confirmation of source
of failed product, the identification of contaminants causing failure, the competitive
analysis, as well as overcoming a problem in product development.
The obtained analytical results were then used for troubleshooting and remedial
action of the technological process.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author (P. K.) thanks his daughter Maria Kusch, M.A. for her critical reading of the
manuscript.

REFERENCES
[1] Stuart BH. Forensic analytical techniques. Chichester: Wiley; 2013. p. 54.
[2] Kusch P. Pyrolysis – gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of polymeric materials.
In: Mohd MA, editor. Advanced gas chromatography – progress in agricultural, biomedical
and industrial applications. Rijeka: InTech; 2012. p. 343–62. http://www.intechopen.com/
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accessed January 7, 2015.
[3] Kusch P, Obst V, Schroeder-Obst D, Fink W, Knupp G, Steinhaus J. Application of
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[4] Kusch P. Identification of organic additives in nitrile rubber materials by pyrolysis-GC-
MS, LCGC North Am 2013;31(3):248–54. http://www.chromatographyonline.com/lcgc/
Article/Identification-of-Organic-Additives-in-Nitrile-Rub/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/
807703. accessed January 7, 2015.
[5] Kusch P, Knupp G, Fink W, Schroeder-Obst D, Obst V, Steinhaus J. Application of
pyrolysis – gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the identification of polymeric