Wear can be defined as damage to a solid surface caused by the removal or displacement of material through mechanical action associated with contact with a mating surface. Plastic components are used in a wide range of demanding applications in which they are subjected to surface damage and wear. These commonly include:

• Bearings
• Seals
• Valves and Pistons
• Fasteners
• Conveyor Systems
• Tanks and Hoppers
• Gears

Wear of plastics is a relatively common failure mechanism, which needs to be understood in order to avoid component malfunction and breakdown. This course will address the mechanisms of wear in plastics.

Plastic wear is affected by several factors that may be generally categorized into mechanical, environmental, and thermal aspects. These three groups of factors essentially determine the mechanism of wear of a plastic surface when it comes in contact with another surface.

The topics covered as part of this presentation will include:

• Wear factors
• Mechanisms of wear in plastics
• Environmental
• Thermal
• Mechanical
• Wear resistant plastics
• Wear testing

This course is designed for professionals who work with plastic components that experience friction, abrasion, or surface interaction—and who need a deeper understanding of wear mechanisms to improve performance and reliability. It is especially valuable for:

• Product Design Engineers: Engineers responsible for designing gears, bearings, seals, pistons, fasteners, and other components where wear and surface damage are critical performance factors.
• Materials & Polymer Engineers: Professionals involved in material selection, performance evaluation, and development of wear‑resistant plastic formulations.
• Manufacturing & Process Engineers: Those working with injection molding, machining, or assembly processes where surface finish, contact mechanics, and tribology influence part quality and durability.
• Reliability, Quality, and Failure Analysis Teams: Teams responsible for diagnosing wear‑related failures, evaluating performance under different operating conditions, and improving product longevity.
• Maintenance & Operations Engineers: Individuals overseeing equipment that uses plastic wear components—such as conveyor systems, valves, tanks, and hopper systems—and who need to understand why parts fail and how to extend their service life.

• Do your plastic components suffer from premature wear, abrasion, or surface damage?
• Are you unsure why certain polymers fail quickly while others thrive under identical operating conditions?
• Do you need a deeper understanding of the factors that drive wear so you can design more reliable, longer‑lasting plastic parts?

If these challenges sound familiar, this course was designed for you.

  Why This On Demand Course Matters

Wear is one of the most common and costly failure mechanisms in plastic components.
Whether the issue is friction, abrasion, contamination, insufficient lubrication, or elevated temperature, worn parts can lead to downtime, inefficiency, and system failure.

This webinar helps you:

• Understand how and why wear happens, so you can address problems before they occur.
• Identify the dominant wear mechanisms affecting your application.
• Select better materials and design strategies to improve component life.
• Reduce failures and maintenance costs by making more informed engineering decisions.
• Communicate effectively with suppliers and teams using correct terminology and test methods.

If you're ready to improve reliability, reduce premature wear, and optimize material performance, “Understanding Wear of Plastics” is your next step.