Polymeric materials are increasingly used in engineering applications, which requires a correct lifetime prediction of products within their operating conditions. That is only possible if the material behaves linearly (response of polymer is proportional to the external load or its mechanical properties are constant within the given loading conditions). The aim of this thesis is to determine the influence of temperature on the shear stress limit of linear theory of viscoelasticity of material PEI, which represents the boundary between linear and non-linear behaviour of the material. The influence of temperature on shear stress limit of linear theory of viscoelasticity was determined through measurements of mechanical properties, i.e. shear creep compliance in stress range from 0,1 to 10 MPa and temperature range from 90 to 210°C. From the results it can be concluded, that the shear stress limit is constant and around the value of 5 MPa up to 160°C and falls drastically afterwards. The experimental work of this thesis not only serves to establish the range of usefulness for the material, but also broadens the general understanding of polymer behaviour and presents one of the possible methodologies for determining the stress-strain limit of linear theory of viscoelasticity.
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