Constitutive Equations for Polymer Melts and Solutions presents a description of important constitutive equations for stress and birefringence in polymer melts, as well as in dilute and concentrated solutions of flexible and rigid polymers, and in liquid crystalline materials. The book serves as an introduction and guide to constitutive equations, and to molecular and phenomenological theories of polymer motion and flow. The chapters in the text discuss topics on the flow phenomena commonly associated with viscoelasticity; fundamental elementary models for understanding the rheology of melts, solutions of flexible polymers, and advanced constitutive equations; melts and concentrated solutions of flexible polymer; and the rheological properties of real liquid crystal polymers. Chemical engineers and physicists will find the text very useful.

Multiphase Flow in Polymer Processing focuses on dispersed and stratified multiphase flow in polymer processing. This book explores the rheological behavior of multiphase (or multicomponent) polymeric systems as they are involved in various fabrication operations. It also outlines the importance of the morphological states of multiphase polymeric systems to explain the systems, rheological behavior in the fluid state, and mechanical behavior in the solid state. This monograph consists of eight chapters divided into two parts. After discussing dispersed and stratified multiphase flow in polymer processing, it introduces the reader to the fundamentals of rheology. The following chapters focus on the rheological behavior of particulate-filled polymeric systems and heterogeneous polymeric systems; the phenomenon of droplet breakup in dispersed flow; and gas-charged polymeric systems. The role of the discrete phase (that is, solid particles, liquid droplets, gas bubbles) in determining the bulk rheological properties of the multiphase system is highlighted, along with some representative polymer processing operations (namely, fiber spinning and injection molding) of the multiphase (or multicomponent) polymeric systems. Coextrusion in cylindrical, rectangular, and annular dies is also considered. The final chapter is devoted to the phenomenon of interfacial instability in coextrusion. This text will be a useful resource for chemists, chemical engineers, and those in the polymer processing industry.

The selection and application of engineered materials is an integrated process that requires an understanding of the interaction between materials properties, manufacturing characteristics, design considerations, and the total life cycle of the product. This reference book on engineering plastics provides practical and comprehensive coverage on how the performance of plastics is characterized during design, property testing, and failure analysis. The fundamental structure and properties of plastics are reviewed for general reference, and detailed articles describe the important design factors, properties, and failure mechanisms of plastics. The effects of composition, processing, and structure are detailed in articles on the physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Other articles cover failure mechanisms such as: crazing and fracture; impact loading; fatigue failure; wear failures, moisture related failure; organic chemical related failure; photolytic degradation; and microbial degradation. Characterization of plastics in failure analysis is described with additional articles on analysis of structure, surface analysis, and fractography.

The aim of the Rolduc Polymer Meetings is to stimulate interdisciplinary discussions between academic and industrial scientists and engineers. The general theme of these meetings is 'Integration of Fundamental Polymer Science and Technology'. In order to achieve this goal, experts from various fields are invited to review topics and to initiate discussions relating to future trends and developments. Since all participants are accommodated in Rolduc Abbey, a well-preserved mediaeval monument in Limburg (The Netherlands), an optimum atmosphere is provided for the exchange of ideas. About 400 participants took part in the 5th Rolduc Polymer Meeting, which was held from 29 April to 3 May 1990. This volume contains invited and selected contributed papers on topics such as thermodynamics/blends, liquid crystalline polymers, structure and morphology, polymerization and characterization. We are fully aware of the fact that the reader will not find an integrated presentation of lectures in this volume. Unfortunately, it is impossible to put down in writing the atmosphere of this and previous meetings. However, we hope that the reader will be stimulated to present his own views in forthcoming meetings after reading these proceedings. We wish to thank all contributors to this volume. P. J. L.

Derived from the fourth edition of the well-known Plastics Technology Handbook, Plastics Fundamentals, Properties, and Testing covers the behavior, characterization, and evaluation of polymers. With a luci

Properties of Polymers: Their Correlation with Chemical Structure; Their Numerical Estimation and Prediction from Additive Group Contributions summarizes the latest developments regarding polymers, their properties in relation to chemical structure, and methods for estimating and predicting numerical properties from chemical structure. In particular, it examines polymer electrical properties, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties, as well as their crystallization and environmental behavior and failure. The rheological properties of polymer melts and polymer solutions are also considered. Organized into seven parts encompassing 27 chapters, this book begins with an overview of polymer science and engineering, including the typology of polymers and their properties. It then turns to a discussion of thermophysical properties, from transition temperatures to volumetric and calorimetric properties, along with the cohesive aspects and conformation statistics. It also introduces the reader to the behavior of polymers in electromagnetic and mechanical fields of force. The book covers the quantities that influence the transport of heat, momentum, and matter, particularly heat conductivity, viscosity, and diffusivity; properties that control the chemical stability and breakdown of polymers; and polymer properties as an integral concept, with emphasis on processing and product properties. Readers will find tables that give valuable (numerical) data on polymers and include a survey of the group contributions (increments) of almost every additive function considered. This book is a valuable resource for anyone working on practical problems in the field of polymers, including organic chemists, chemical engineers, polymer processers, polymer technologists, and both graduate and PhD students.