Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) Testing

Impact Solutions provides environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) testing to help manufacturers and engineers evaluate the durability of plastic materials under real-world conditions.

We support material development, product validation, and failure investigation across a wide range of polymer applications.

What is Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR)?

Environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) is the ability of a plastic material to resist cracking while under stress and aggressive environments such as chemicals, detergents, or vapours.

The ESCR testing itself measures how long a material can withstand these combined effects before failure occurs. This type of failure is a very common cause of brittle cracking in polymers, particularly in polyethylene and other thermoplastics.

Why is ESCR Testing Important?

ESCR testing helps identify materials that may fail prematurely in service, even when mechanical strength appears sufficient.

Key Benefits of ESCR Testing

Detect susceptibility to brittle failure
Evaluate long-term material durability
Simulate real-world chemical exposure conditions
Support material selection and product development
Reduce risk of in-service failure and product recalls

What does Environmental Stress Cracking Testing Involve?

Environmental stress cracking is tested by applying controlled stress to a specimen while exposing it to a chemical environment, often at elevated temperature to accelerate failure.

Typical Test Method

Specimens are placed under constant strain or stress
Exposed to a test fluid (often a detergent solution)
Tested at elevated temperatures to accelerate cracking
Time to failure is measured and analysed

The applied stress level and conditions are selected based on the material type and intended application.

ESCR Testing Standards

We carry out testing in accordance with recognised international standards, including:

ASTM D1693 (Bell Telephone Test)
ISO 16770 (Full Notch Creep Test – FNCT)
IEC 60811-406:2012

These methods are widely used to evaluate polyethylene and polypropylene materials for pipelines, cables, and industrial applications.

UKAS-Accredited ESCR Testing

Impact Solutions is UKAS-accredited to perform ESCR testing, including the Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT), providing confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the results.