The compensation law and polymer aging and relaxations

Abstract

It has been shown previously by the author (1957, 1984) that the relaxation of polyethylene (PE) can be well described by the rate theory. It is shown here that the rate theory applies to aging at temperatures below the melting temperature. It is also shown that the aging process has different energy parameters on the two sides of a thermodynamic transition. The importance of performing accelerated aging tests within the appropriate temperature range is stressed.<>