Analysis of a blow-molded HDPE bottle that failed by brittle fracture

A blow molded high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle [volume 1 US gallon ( 3.79 1)] failed due to cracks in its bottom surface. The bottle had contain ed a solution used for cleaning heat exchanger coils that contained, among other chemicals, hydrofluoric acid. Failure of the bottle destroyed a set o f steel shelves and some associated equipment and necessitated an expensive cleanup. The bottle was examined in order to determine the cause of failur e. Failure was attributed to an abnormally high level of crystallinity in t he failed bottle, which caused the HDPE to be brittle and crack under a lig ht impact load. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.