Everything flows, so rheology is a universal science. Even if we set aside claims of such width, there can be no doubt of its importance in polymers. It joins with chemistry in the polymerisation step but polymer engineering is supreme in all the succeeding steps. This is the area concerned with the fabrication of the polymer into articles or components, with their design to meet the needs in service, and with the long and short term performance of the article or component. This is a typical area of professional engineering activity, but one as yet without its proper complement of professional engineers. An understanding of polymer rheology is the key to effective design and material plus process selection, to efficient fabrication, and to satisfactory service, yet few engineers make adequate use of what is known and understood in polymer rheology. Its importance in the flow processes of fabrication is obvious. Less obvious, but equally important, are the rheological phenomena which determine the in-service performance. There is a gap between the polymer rheologist and the polymer engineer which is damaging to both parties and which contributes to a less than satisfactory use of polymers in our society. It is important that this gap be filled and this book makes an attempt to do so. It presents an outline of what is known in a concise and logical fashion. It does this starting from first principles and with the minimum use of complex mathematics.

An introduction to the rheology of polymers, with simple math Designed for practicing scientists and engineers interested in polymer rheology science, education, consulting, or research and development, Introduction to Polymer Rheology is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the study of the deformation and flow of matter under applied stress. Often considered a complicated topic for beginners, the book makes grasping the fundamentals of polymer rheology easy by presenting information in an approachable way and limiting the use of complex mathematics. By doing so, this introductory overview provides readers with easy access to the key concepts underlying the flow behavior of polymer melts, solutions, and suspensions. Incorporating sample problems that are worked through and explained on the page, as well as numerous practice problems to gauge learning comprehension, the book prepares new students and practitioners for moving on to more advanced concepts. Comprising twelve chapters, the book covers stress, velocity and rate of deformation, the relationship between stress and rate of deformation (Newtonian fluid), generalized Newtonian fluids, normal stresses and elastic behavior, experimental methods, small and large strain, the molecular origins of rheological behavior, elementary polymer processing concepts, quality control in rheology, and the flow of modified polymers and those with supermolecular structure. The essential reference for accurately interpreting polymer rheology data, Introduction to Polymer Rheology provides readers with an elementary understanding of the key issues and modern approaches to resolving problems in the field. An Instructor’s Guide with answers to select problems in the text, 60 new problems with full solutions, hints for effective presentation of the material in the text, and an errata listing is available for professors using the book as a course textbook.

Rheology is the science that studies the behavior of the flow of matter in a liquid state or soft solids under the application of stress or deformation to obtain a response to an applied force. In polymers, rheology is an important tool to understand behavior under processing conditions and to design equipment. Another application for rheology in the polymer field is to understand structure-property relationships by means of molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, stereochemistry, morphology, melt degradation, and performance under processing. This book covers the essential criteria for selecting the best test types for various applications and new developments, for accurately interpreting results, and for determining other areas where rheology and rheological phenomena may be useful in your work.

Integrating latest research results and characterization techniques, this book helps readers understand and apply fundamental principles in nonlinear polymer rheology. The author connects the basic theoretical framework with practical polymer processing, which aids practicing scientists and engineers to go beyond the existing knowledge and explore new applications. Although it is not written as a textbook, the content can be used in an upper undergraduate and first year graduate course on polymer rheology. • Describes the emerging phenomena and associated conceptual understanding in the field of nonlinear polymer rheology • Incorporates details on latest experimental discoveries and provides new methodology for research in polymer rheology • Integrates latest research results and new characterization techniques like particle tracking velocimetric method • Focuses on the issues concerning the conceptual and phenomenological foundations for polymer rheology • Has a companion website for readers to access with videos complementing the content within several chapters

Explore polymer rheology from an industrial standpoint Presenting state-of-the-art polymer rheology as observed by well-recognized authors, Applied Polymer Rheology: Polymeric Fluids with Industrial Applications is designed to help readers understand the relationship between molecular structure and the flow behavior of polymers. In particular, it focuses on polymeric systems that elicit special attention from industry. Providing a comprehensive overview of the rheological characteristics of polymeric fluids, the book bridges the gap between theory and practice/application, enabling readers to see the connection between molecular structure and the behavior of the polymers studied. Beginning with a discussion of the properties, processability, and processing aids of specific polymers, later chapters examine filled polymers and composites, and the theoretical framework upon which their analysis is based. Various systems containing microstructure are presented subsequently, with the final chapter introducing paste extrusion of polytetrafluoroethylene paste. An invaluable reference guide that covers the literature and vast array of technical approaches to polymer rheology, Applied Polymer Rheology's coverage of polymeric fluids of interest to industry make it an essential resource for plastics, polymer, and chemical engineers, materials scientists, polymer chemists, and polymer physicists to use when interpreting findings and planning experiments.

The present book is devoted to a rapidly developing field of science which studies the behavior of viscoelastic materials under the influence of deformation~the rheology of polymers. Rheology has long been treated as the theoretical foundation of polymer processing, and from this standpoint it is difficult to overesti mate its importance in practice. Rheology plays an important role in developing our ideas on the nature of viscoelastic behavior in connection with the structural features of polymers and composites based on them. This expands the possibilities of employing rheological methods to characterize a variety of materials and greatly magnifies the interest in this field of research. The rheological properties of polymer systems are studied experimen tally, chiefly under conditions of shear and tensile strains. One explana tion is that many aspects of polymer material processing are associated with the stretching of melts or a combination of shear and tensile strains. In scientific investigations, either periodic or continuous conditions of shear deformation are employed. Each mode provides widespread infor mation. In periodic deformation, most attention is generally given to conditions with low deformation amplitudes that do not alter the structure of the polymer system during an experiment (the region of linear deformation conditions). Here the viscoelastic parameters are generally determined with respect to the frequency. Continuous deforma tion involves considerable strains, and may be attended by significant reversible and irreversible changes in the structure of a polymer.

An Introduction to Polymer Rheology and Processing is a practical desk reference providing an overview of operating principles, data interpretation, and qualitative explanation of the importance and relationship of rheology to polymer processing operations. It covers full-scale processing operations, relating industrial processing operations and design methodology to laboratory-scale testing. Hundreds of design formulas applicable to scaling up the processing behavior of polymeric melts are presented. The book also provides a "working knowledge" description of major rheological test methods useful in product development and includes a useful glossary of polymer and test method/instrumentation definitions. Lavishly illustrated and featuring numerous sample calculations and modeling approaches, An Introduction to Polymer Rheology and Processing is a "must have" book for polymer engineers and rheologists.