Stress cracking of plastics by chemicals and stress
When plastics come into contact with a chemical and are subjected to mechanical stress, microcracks form in some types of plastic, leading to failure over time. This can occur in polyethylene water pipes due to the action of chlorinated water, but is also to be expected in the use of body fluids or disinfectants in medical applications. Microcracks formed by such fluids also impair the sterilisation of plastics.
