Vormstabiel
Vormstabiel is a Dutch term used in engineering and materials science to describe the ability of a material, component, or product to retain its intended shape under defined operating conditions. A vormstabiel material remains dimensionally stable when subjected to changes in temperature, humidity, or mechanical load, and over time. In practice, vormstabielheid, or shape stability, is important for applications where deformation would affect performance, fit, or appearance. Mechanisms affecting shape stability include thermal expansion, creep (time-dependent deformation under stress), relaxation of internal stresses, moisture uptake, and phase transitions. Materials are specified with dimensional tolerances and stability ranges; tests might include thermal aging, creep tests, dimensional stability after exposure to solvents or humidity, and thermomechanical analysis.
In common domains, vormstabielheid is relevant for packaging films where shrinking or stretching must be minimized;