Summary Volume recovery of polycarbonate samples has been investigated by dilatometric and density measurements near ambient temperature. The volume changes with time have been measured either after heating above Tg and quenching, or after cold drawing at ambient temperature. Cold drawing drastically increases the volume recovery rate of polycarbonate, as compared with the rate observed after quenching. This is quite similar to the behavior previously reported on physical aging measured by dynamic mechanical tests (I). The observed decrease of specific volume after cold drawing can be explained by a densification effect due to molecular orientation.