Introduction to Polymer Physics

I The Mechanics of Linear Deformation of Polymers.- 1 Object and Aims of Polymer Physics.- 2 Mechanical Relaxation in Polymers.- 2.1 Basic Continuum Mechanics.- 2.1.1 Stress and Strain Tensors.- 2.1.2 Basic Laws of Continuum Mechanics.- 2.2 Relaxation and Creep Experiments on Polymers.- 2.2.1 Creep Experiment.- 2.2.2 Relaxation Experiment.- 2.2.3 Basic Law for Relaxation and Creep.- 2.3 Dynamic Relaxation Experiments.- 2.4 Technical Measures for Damping.- 2.4.1 Energy Dissipation Under Defined Load Conditions.- 2.4.2 Rebound Elasticity.- 3 Simple Phenomenological Models.- 3.1 Maxwell’s Model.- 3.2 Kelvin-Voigt Model.- 3.3 Relaxation and Retardation Spectra.- 3.4 Approximate Determination of Relaxation Spectra.- 3.4.1 Method of Schwarzl and Stavermann.- 3.4.2 Method According to Ferry and Williams.- 4 Molecular Models of Relaxation Behavior.- 4.1 Simple Jump Model.- 4.2 Change of Position in Terms of a Potential Model.- 4.3 Viscosity in Terms of the Simple Jump Model.- 4.4 Determining the Energy of Activation by Experiment.- 4.5 Kink Model.- 5 Glass Transition.- 5.1 Thermodynamic Description.- 5.2 Free Volume Theory.- 5.3 Williams, Landel and Ferry Relationship.- 5.4 Time-Temperature Superposition Principle.- 5.5 Increment Method for the Determination of the Glass Transition Temperature.- 5.6 Glass Transitions of Copolymers.- 5.7 Dependence of Tg on Molar Mass.- 5.8 Empirical Correlations Between Molecular Parameters and Glass Transition Temperatures.- 5.9 Plasticizer.- 5.10 Crosslinking.- 5.11 Fillers.- 6 Flow and Rubber Elasticity in Polymer Melts.- 6.1 Flow as a Relaxation Process.- 6.2 Structural Models for Polymer Melts.- 6.3 Bueche-Rouse Model.- 6.4 Rouse Theory of Flow in Low Molar Mass Polymer Melts.- 6.5 Extension of the Rouse Theory to Large Molar Mass and Crosslinked Polymer Melts.- 6.6 Relaxation Processes According to the Meander Model.- 6.6.1 Rubber Elasticity.- 6.6.2 Flow.- 6.6.3 Glass Transition Process.- 6.7 Non-Newtonian Viscosity and the Behavior of Polymers During Processing.- II Crystallization and Melting of Polymers.- 7 Crystallization Behavior.- 7.1 Polymer Crystals and Growth Forms.- 7.2 Crystalline Structures in Stretched Polymers.- 7.3 Nucleation.- 7.4 Crystal Growth.- 8 Melting Behavior.- 8.1 Equilibrium Thermodynamics.- 8.2 Influence of Crystallite Size.- 8.3 Entropy Effects.- 8.3.1 Stress Crystallization.- 8.3.2 Entropy of Mixing.- III Non-linear Deformation Behavior of Polymers.- 9 Mechanism of Deformation of Thermoplastics and Multi-component Systems.- 9.1 Terminology.- 9.2 Crazing.- 9.3 Shear Deformation.- 9.4 Deformation Mechanisms in Partially Crystalline Thermoplastics.- 10 Rubber Elasticity of Covalently Crosslinked Elastomers.- 10.1 Thermodynamics of Rubber Elasticity.- 10.2 Statistics of the Segment Model.- 10.3 Statistics of Chains with Free Rotation Around Their Bond Angles.- 10.4 Statistics of a Covalent Chain with Hindered Rotation Around the Bonds.- 10.5 Statistical Theory of Rubber Elasticity.- 10.6 Stress-Strain Relationships for Different Types of Applied Stress..- 10.6.1 Uniaxial Tension or Compression.- 10.6.2 Biaxial Elongation.- 10.6.3 Simple Shear.- 10.7 Phantom Networks.- 10.8 Mooney-Rivlin Theory.- 10.9 Non-Gaussian Chain Statistics and Network Theory.- 10.10 Van der Waals Theory of Networks.- 10.11 Photoelastic Properties of Elastomers.- 11 Tear Formation and Propagation in Elastomers.- 11.1 Concept of Tearing Energy According to Rivlin.- 11.1.1 Trousers Test Piece.- 11.1.2 Tensile Strip with a Small Cut.- 11.1.3 “Pure shear” Test Piece.- 11.2 Elastic Energy Density in an Elastomer.- 11.3 Fatigue Crack Propagation Under Dynamic Load.- 12 Deformation Behavior of Thermoplastic Elastomers.- 12.1 Structural Principles.- 12.2 Polyurethane Elastomers.- 12.3 Block Copolymers.- 12.4 Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Polymer Mixtures.- 12.5 Tension Set.- IV Mixing and Swelling of Polymers.- 13 Compatibility of Polymers.- 13.1 Basic Theoretical Considerations.- 13.2 Flory-Huggins Theory.- 13.3 Development of the Flory-Huggins Theory to a Description of Polymer Mixtures.- 13.4 Solubility Parameter.- 13.5 Experimental Methods for Determining Miscibility.- 14 Network Swelling.- 15 Environmental Stress Cracking of Polymeric Materials.