Kyle Diederichsen

Kyle Diederichsen, Ph.D., P.E., is a managing engineer in Exponent's Polymers & Chemistry practice specializing in data-driven investigations of materials failures, plastic plumbing systems, and industrial processes. Using his experience in chemical engineering, polymer science, electrochemistry, and materials chemistry, Dr. Diederichsen advises law firms, manufacturers, and industrial clients on materials performance, product failures, industrial processing questions, and disputes ranging from complex construction defect litigation to product liability and intellectual property evaluation. 

Consulting as a Chemical Engineer

Dr. Diederichsen applies his foundation in fundamental chemical engineering principles from his B.S. at the University of Colorado, his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, and postdoctoral work at MIT — including mass transport, reaction kinetics, separations, and thermodynamics — to diagnose why complex materials systems underperform or fail. He supports clients across building materials, construction, automotive, oil and gas, and consumer electronics industries, translating rigorous engineering science into defensible, practical conclusions. His consulting spans both reactive litigation support and proactive materials design, helping clients understand root causes before problems escalate into costly disputes or recalls.

Plastic Degradation & Failures

Dr. Diederichsen has led and supported investigations into plastic plumbing failures, including cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing degradation, fitting failures, and chemical compatibility issues in residential and commercial water distribution systems. He evaluates degradation mechanisms such as oxidative embrittlement, stress cracking, chlorine-induced degradation, and premature aging — common types of failures that drive large-scale construction litigation and insurance claims. He is experienced with industry standards such as ASTM F876 and F2023 and multiple characterization methods including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), oxidation induction time (OIT), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and chromatography to identify polymer degradation modes.

Data-Driven Investigation

Dr. Diederichsen integrates data science methods into materials failure and engineering investigations, using Python-based analysis pipelines to automate data processing, identify patterns across large datasets, and accelerate the path from raw evidence to defensible conclusions. He has built custom test systems that combine sensor data, electrochemical measurements, and materials characterization outputs into unified analytical frameworks. This capability is particularly valuable in complex, multi-party litigation where large volumes of field data, document productions, laboratory results, and inspection records must be synthesized efficiently and transparently. He holds a certificate in data science from the University of Washington (2024).

Materials Chemistry Analysis

Dr. Diederichsen's expertise in materials chemistry encompasses polymer synthesis and characterization, ion transport in polymeric systems, chemical contamination analysis, and the physical and thermal behavior of engineering materials. He is experienced with a broad suite of analytical techniques — including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) — to probe the chemical, structural, and thermal properties of polymers, coatings, membranes, and ion-containing materials. This depth supports both litigation-driven root-cause analysis and proactive intellectual property evaluation for manufacturers and developers.

Electrochemical Processes

Dr. Diederichsen brings specialized expertise in electrochemical systems, including battery electrolyte design, flow electrochemistry, and electrochemically mediated separations. His doctoral research at UC Berkeley focused on high transference number polymer-based electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, and his postdoctoral work at MIT addressed electrochemical carbon capture using hollow fiber membrane contactors and continuous-flow systems. In consulting, this background informs his analysis of battery-related failures, industrial electrochemical processes, and other processes where complex interfacial chemistry is central to understanding the problem at hand.