Relaxation Phenomena in Polymers

Part 1 Stress and strain: free energy and stress; interrelationship among the stresses in elastic body; viscoelasticity; the relaxation spectrum; approximate relations among linear viscoelastic functions; the yield phenomenon. Part 2 Intermolecular co-operativity: a molecular model for intermolecular co-operativity; distribution of relaxation times near the glass transition. Part 3 The glassy state: isothermal contraction/expansion in the nonequilibrium state; linear viscoelastic relaxation in the glassy state; plasticity and nonlinear viscoelasticity in the glassy state. Part 4 The molten state: elements of melt rheology; rubber elasticity; linear viscoelasticity without entanglement - stage 2; linear viscoelasticity with entanglement - stage 3; the melt flow; additional comments. Part 5 The crystalline state: melting and crystallization; relaxation of semicrystalline polymers as composite structures; engineering properties. Part 6 Related topics: the glass transition in crosslinked polymers (thermosets); failure in plastics; polymer solutions. Part 7 Computer programs in BASIC: engineering properties of glassy and crystalline polymers; the program; thermodynamic recovery.