Cool Video – Explosion of Prince Rupert’s Drop in Slow Motion

If you ever questioned the importance of proper manufacturing techniques and how residual stresses can affect the performance of the part, look no further. Prince Rupert’s drop is an extreme example of how the making of an part can greatly affect the outcome.

If you haven’t heard of Prince Rupert’s drop, it is a piece of glass that is so strong, it can be hit with a hammer. But if you apply just a little force to its tail, it explodes from residual internal stresses.

There are processes that can be done after manufacturing to alleviate some internal stresses, especially in plastics, such as heat treating but the proper manufacturing process and part design play the major factor in eliminating the forces.

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