Case Study
Product failure analysis: Consumer product affected by inappropriate raw material
Soon after roofing shingles were installed, the shingle
manufacturer received complaints from numerous homeowners who
observed rust-colored staining discharging from the shingles. The
manufacturer replaced the shingles and began an investigation into
the cause of the discoloration. Their in-house testing using an
industry-standard method revealed the presence of
corrosion-susceptible particles that were thought to be the cause
of the staining. These particles were discovered in the raw
material of a product used on the shingles. The test results
prompted the manufacturer to file a lawsuit against the raw
materials supplier.
The expert retained by the raw materials supplier issued an
opinion that contradicted that of the manufacturer. Their expert
reported that the corrosion on the shingles was not caused by the
supplied material but rather due to the presence of microscopic
mineral particles in another component of the shingle – the sand –
which they did not supply. The manufacturer of the shingles
retained RJ Lee Group experts to conduct materials failure analysis to
determine the root cause of the rust-colored staining.
RJ Lee Group experts used multiple failure analysis techniques,
including optical and scanning electron microscopy to investigate
the shingle material. We performed a detailed examination of the
raw materials for both shingle components as well as of uninstalled
shingles from inventory and those from complainants' homes. We
discovered that a portion of the supplied raw material contained
corrosion-susceptible material that we determined was the source of
the problem. The corroding particles at the top of the shingle
became dislodged and migrated to the bottom of the shingle where
they would occasionally become embedded and continue to corrode.
Although exacerbated by the environment, our failure analysis of
the product helped determine that the root cause was not the rain
and humidity, but rather the raw material that easily corroded. The
presence of mineral particles in the sand was shown to be
inconsequential despite the opposing expert’s opinion.
As a step towards further resolution, all parties, including
attorneys and experts, met at the manufacturer's facility so
everyone would have access to all of the samples. RJ Lee Group's
expert conducted "real-time assessments" of the samples using a
field deployable optical microscope brought to the facility. RJ Lee
Group prepared and submitted an expert report of its findings after
which our client informed us that they had reached a
settlement.
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