Cold flow

Cold flow, also known as cold drawing, describes the process of stretching plastics under the influence of external forces. This process can be induced in various ways, with the force acting on the plastic playing a central role.

A significant cause of cold flow can be the effect of gravity, which causes the dead weight of a plastic part to act on itself. In this case, the constant tensile force generated by gravity causes the plastic to slowly expand or "flow" without the need for additional heat or an external energy source. This process can lead to structural changes and deformation of the plastic material that can affect its physical properties.