A method of evaluating a material specimen using a liquid displacement bath, comprising the steps of:
- encasing a material specimen in a conformable sealant material;
- evacuating the encased material specimen;
- sealing the encased material specimen, thereby holding the material specimen in an evacuated state;
- immersing the encased material specimen in a liquid displacement bath while the encased material specimen is held sealed in an evacuated state within the sealant material;
- introducing an opening into the sealant material of the encased material specimen while the material specimen is held immersed in the liquid bath to allow liquid to contact the material specimen;
- obtaining a measurement of the encased material specimen during said immersing step after said introducing step;
- and
- determining the value of at least one parameter of interest of the material specimen based on said obtaining step.