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A “Toolbox” for Forensic Engineers

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234 <strong>Forensic</strong> Materials Engineering: Case Studies<br />

Figure 7.18 Network of cracks <strong>for</strong>med in flat surface of polymer table by<br />

ultraviolet degradation.<br />

The problem discussed here occurred during one of the many military<br />

campaigns by the Israeli Army during the 1970s and 1980s. Fork lift trucks<br />

used during vehicle maintenance are often electrically powered, but the large<br />

lead-acid traction batteries must be recharged regularly to maintain their<br />

capability in service. Normally such charging would occur at night, but<br />

circumstances were such that charging occurred during the day, leaving the<br />

batteries exposed to intense sunlight. The tops of many such batteries suffered<br />

severe degradation as a direct result, creating much embarrassment to the<br />

battery supplier (Figure 7.19). It was observed that the heat-welded tops were<br />

most severely affected in the weld zone, the material becoming bleached by<br />

the suns rays (an effect known as “chalking”). The effect on the molecular<br />

mass of the polymer was confirmed using a special analytical method known<br />

as gel permeation chromatography (GPC), as shown in Figure 7.20. Polymer<br />

from the inside or hidden surface of a battery showed a much higher molecular<br />

mass than that on the upper exposed surface. FTIR spectroscopy showed<br />

the presence of oxidized chains (carbonyl groups) in the exposed material,<br />

precursors of chain cleavage. The fact that degradation was more severe in<br />

the thermally affected weld zone was caused by excessive temperatures used

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