Long-Term Creep Rupture in Polycarbonate
Persistence Regime: Mechanical
Assumption under test
Polycarbonate maintains dimensional stability and mechanical integrity indefinitely under constant moderate mechanical stress.
Irreversible physical mechanism
Slow creep deformation accumulates through molecular relaxation and microvoid growth until abrupt rupture occurs along the gauge section. This process is irreversible and unfolds only over years.
Why persistence timescales are required
Short- and extended-cycle tests do not reach the temporal threshold required for microvoid nucleation and creep-driven fracture at sub-yield loads.
MVP persistence experiment
- Mold standard PC dogbone specimens
- Apply constant tensile load at 50% of yield strength
- Maintain ambient temperature and humidity
- Duration: 2–4 years
Binary kill condition
Complete fracture of the specimen within the gauge section with abrupt loss of load.
Estimated probability
0.7–0.8