At Exova, we have been conducting tailored testing for over 20 years on materials from various industries and applications, in addition to standard testing where applicable.

We recognize that polymers are viscoelastic materials and therefore suffer creep under constant load conditions and can provide solutions through our creep testing capabilities. Exova has an extensive creep test facility, employing long-term flexural testing in a controlled environment at ambient and elevated temperatures on request. Samples may be tested in air or other environments to evaluate whether the material suffers enhanced creep due to the effects of the environment.

Environmental stress cracking (ESC) is the term for even more detrimental effects of the environment on the material in the presence of stress and this highly specialised testing has also been regularly conducted using the same basic equipment, although specimens containing stress concentrations may also be accommodated in the latter work. Further analysis of specimens may be conducted on materials shown to exhibit ESC in order to detect chemical changes in the material and build further understanding and ultimately models of deterioration.

Please contact us to find out how Exova’s Creep and Stress laboratory test method can meet your specific requirements.