Definition of terms relating to the non-ultimate mechanical properties of polymers: (IUPAC Recommendations 1998)

Abstract

The document gives definitions of terms related to the non-ultimate mechanical behaviour of polymeric materials, in particular bulk polymers and concentrated solutions and their elastic and viscoelastic properties. The terms which have been selected are those met in the conventional mechanical characterization of isotropic polymeric materials. They have additionally been limited to those which can be defined precisely and with mathematical rigour. They are arranged in sections dealing with basic definitions of stress and strain, deformations used experimentally, stresses observed experimentally, quantities relating stress and deformation, linear viscoelastic behaviour, and oscillatory deformations and stresses used experimentally for solids. An index, an alphabetical list of terms and a glossary of symbols are included for ease of reference.