AbstractThe effects of physical ageing and prior immersion time on the ESC behaviour of polycarbonate in ethanol were studied. Constant strain rate tensile tests were performed at a range of strain rates for samples with ageing times varying from 100 hours to 3000 hours and for prior immersion times of between 1 hour and 500 hours. Comparison of tests performed in ethanol and in air gave a good indication of the point of craze initiation. The results showed that there was a reduction in strain to crazing as the strain rate decreased, apart from with the lowest strain rate used. A longer prior immersion time also promoted craze formation. Both of these results are attributable to diffusion effects. Physical ageing had little effect on the ESC behaviour, due to the large amounts of deformation encountered in this system.
Comparison of Tests for Lumbar Flexion and Hip Function in Patients With and Without Axial Spondyloarthritis
