OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, 2015
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Toledo, 2010
Licenses & Certifications
- Professional Engineer Chemical, Florida, #104678
- Professional Engineer Chemical, Hawaii, #PE-21406-0
- Professional Engineer Chemical, Texas, #133642
- Professional Engineer Chemical, Washington, #22030226
Professional Affiliations
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)
- Product Stewardship Society
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Andrew Worthen, Ph.D., P.E., is a senior managing engineer in Exponent's Polymers & Chemistry practice with over a decade of experience in construction material failures, plastic pipe systems, and chemical engineering fundamentals applied to materials. He advises law firms, insurers, and product manufacturers on failure analysis, construction defect litigation support, and product performance in complex regulatory environments.
Construction Material Failures
Dr. Worthen leads failure analysis investigations involving a broad range of construction materials including plastic pipe and tubing, roofing underlayment, paints and coatings, adhesives, concrete, flooring, windows, doors, and building envelope systems. He applies materials characterization, chemical analysis, and engineering fundamentals to determine root causes of failures that result in property damage, water loss, and construction disputes. His investigations address degradation mechanisms such as oxidation, chemical incompatibility, improper installation, and manufacturing defects, and he regularly evaluates compliance with applicable industry standards including ASTM test methods and building codes.
Construction Defect Litigation
Dr. Worthen provides technical consulting and expert support in complex construction defect litigation, including cases involving alleged product defects, installation failures, and material incompatibilities. He has served as a testifying expert in construction litigation matters, including deposition and trial testimony, and has supported domestic arbitration proceedings. His litigation support spans multi-party disputes involving general contractors, subcontractors, product manufacturers, and insurers, with particular depth in cases where material science and chemical engineering analysis are central to establishing causation.
Plastic Pipe Failure Analysis
Dr. Worthen has conducted dozens of failure investigations involving plastic pipe and tubing systems used in residential, commercial, and industrial construction. He evaluates crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) plastic piping systems, examining failure mechanisms including stress cracking, oxidative degradation, chemical attack, improper joining, and manufacturing defects. His work encompasses both field inspections and laboratory-based materials testing, and he has been retained in numerous high-profile multi-building PEX failure cases involving large-scale water damage and property loss.
Chemical Engineering & Material Failures
Drawing on his doctoral training in chemical engineering, Dr. Worthen applies polymer physics, colloid and surface science, and materials characterization to understand how products fail and why. He evaluates material formulations, processing conditions, and end-use environments to identify the chemical and physical mechanisms underlying failures in plastics, rubbers, coatings, adhesives, and composite materials. This chemical engineering perspective distinguishes his approach in cases where degradation is driven by molecular-scale interactions, such as surfactant-induced stress cracking (including Environmental Stress Cracking or "ESC"), transition metal-catalyzed polymer degradation, or incompatible chemical exposures that may not be readily apparent from visual inspection alone.
Product Stewardship & Regulatory Risk
Dr. Worthen assists manufacturers, in-house counsel, and product development teams in navigating complex regulatory environments affecting product compliance, safety, and market access. He has led scientific assessments at multiple product lifecycle stages, from development and qualification through maturity and end-of-life, addressing regulatory concerns related to chemical contaminants, flame retardants, fluorinated chemicals (including PFAS), and product compliance. He advises clients on managing risks associated with new regulations, evolving market conditions, and sustainability and circularity claims, helping them make defensible, science-based decisions under regulatory scrutiny.
