Investigation on the long‐term behavior of polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) under static load

Abstract

SynopsisThe long-term behavior of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly(viny1 chloride) (PVC) under static mechanical load is investigated. The long-term behavior is determined as a function of stress and temperature. The applicability of the equation proposed by the authors which describes the dependence between the time-dependent failure, stress, and temperature of the two polymers is examined. The equation, derived on theoretical considerations, represents a modification of the Arrhenius equation for the chemical reaction rate. It is found that there is a complete agreement between the experimentally determined long-term behavior of PVC and HDPE and that calculated by the equation over the whole examined range of temperatures and stresses, with the exception of narrow intervals for HDPE where an intensive plastic deformation is developed.