Plastic creep tests, also known as CREEP tests, represent a key process for assessing the behavior of plastic materials under long-term constant loading. This is an irreversible change in the shape of the material that occurs as a result of viscous deformation and can have a significant effect on the performance and reliability of plastic components. How do plastic creep tests work? Plastics creep tests simulate the conditions that plastic materials experience in real life where they are exposed to long-term mechanical loads. During the test, a constant load is applied to the material at a certain temperature and pressure for a certain time. During this stage, the plastic is deformed by a viscous mechanism, meaning that the material slowly deforms and changes its shape over time. Importance of plastic creep tests. Plastic creep tests are essential to assess the long-term stability and reliability of plastic materials in applications where minimizing deformation and maintaining structural integrity is key. These tests allow engineers and manufacturers to predict how plastic components will behave over time under certain loads and what their lifespan might be. Application of plastic creep tests. Plastic creep testing is used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, electrical, healthcare and more. They are key in the development and testing of new materials for the construction of parts that are exposed to long-term loads, such as gaskets, insulation materials, food packaging and more.