Evaluation of Short

The creep behavior of a high density polyethylene (PE-HD) was evaluated before and after aging in contact with gasoline and diesel oil. Four viscoelastic models were used to assess changes in creep properties of the material: three parameters model, four parameters model, stretched Burgers model and Findley Law. Viscoelastic properties, stationary creep rate and compliance were used to analyze and compare the behavior between samples. A strain increase could be seen in aged samples in comparison with as-received ones, caused by plasticization due to aging effects. An increase in flexibility and decrease in stiffness in aged samples was also noted. This work also shows that the effects of aging on the creep response of a polymeric material can be analyzed using short term creep tests