Relaxation Transitions: Experimental Behaviour and Molecular Interpretation

Abstract

When assessing the mechanical properties of a polymer, questions of ductility, strength and fl exibility are paramount. Understanding how a polymer behaves under stress is critical to selecting the correct polymer for any given application. In Mechanical Properties of Solid Polymers, Third Edition, the approach is to provide a formal description of the behaviour using the mathematical techniques of solid mechanics, followed by interpretations in terms of the molecular structure and morphology. The third edition combines the best qualities of its highly successful predecessors and includes: • Finite strain and rubber-like elasticity • Linear viscoelasticity and mechanical relaxation • Anisotropic mechanical behaviour • Polymer composites and nanocomposites • Non-linear viscoelasticity • Yield, instability, and breaking phenomena Drawing on more than thirty years of teaching and research experience, Ward and Sweeney present all aspects of mechanical behaviour in an accessible way without compromising the in-depth treatments of foundational techniques and theories. The result is a straightforward, rigorous and practical guide. "Introduces the mechanical properties of solid polymers in a straightforward, rigorous, and practical manner… an essential volume for students and scholars of physics, chemistry and chemical engineering, as well as polymer researchers, chemists, and chemical engineers or material scientists in government and industry." Professor F. J. Baltá-Calleja (Inst.