Identification of polymers damaged by service fluids

Adva Cohen, Idf, Gedera, Israel (Advazivair@gmail.com)
Yehonathan Moller, Idf, Gedera, Israel
Yalfal Siyum, Idf, Gedera, Israel
Eran Weisel, Idf, Gedera, Israel

Whan rubber components are severely damaged by exposure to service fluids they often lose their original appearance and change their physical properties making material identification challenging. This study focuses on determining the type of rubber in damaged or swollen samples that were recovered from service environments containing oils, fuels, and hydraulic fluids. That identification was carried out using analytical techniques including pre analysis preparation followed by FTIR, TGA, DSC, air pyrolysis and  more, to identify the polymer structure and distinguish between elastomers such as NBR, EPDM, KFM even after chemical degradation. The approach includes modification of traditional analytical methods and thus enables accurate identification of unknown polymers despite extensive damage or contamination by service fluids that was not possible using traditional methods