Creep and stress relaxation explain why polymer body jewelry deforms over time. How viscoelasticity, crosslink density, and molecular weight control long-term fit in BioFlex, silicone, and PTFE.
What the full article covers
Polymers are viscoelastic: they deform with time, not just with load, so a flexi post or o-ring that fits today can fit differently in six months
Creep is time-dependent strain under constant stress; it is why polymer barbells and retainers permanently stretch or bend
Stress relaxation is the same physics seen from the other side: an o-ring or gasket loses tension while held at constant deformation
Crosslink density, molecular weight, and operating temperature determine how fast a polymer creeps
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First published on poliinternational.com. This is a summary of the original engineering article.
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