Polymer Rheology, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1978

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.

1. The Characterisation of Viscous Flow. Viscosity, Shear Rate and Shear Stress.- 2. The Time Dependence of Viscous Flow. Thixotropy and Rheopexy.- 3. The Temperature Dependence of Viscous Flow. Free Volume.- 4. The Influence of Pressure on the Viscosity of Polymer Melts. Viscosity and Molecular Weight.- 5. Vectors and Tensors. Fundamental Equations.- 6. The Analysis of Steady-State Flow in Rectangular and Cylindrical Channels.- 7. The Hagen-Poiseuille Equation and the Rabinowitsch Correction. The Pressure Drop in Tapered Channels.- 8. Pressure Drop in Wire Coating Dies. Two-Dimensional Flow in Extruder Screws.- 9. Coextrusion.- 10. The Effect of Melt Elasticity on Extrusion and Other Melt Processing Operations.- 11. The Rheology of Calendering.- 12. Stretching Flows.- 13. The Rheology of Injection Moulding.- 14. Deformation in the Solid State—Small Strains.- 15. Deformation in the Solid State—Large Strains.- 16. Deformation in the Solid State—Cyclic Strains.- 17. Critical Strain.- 18. Critical Strain: The Effect of Processing History and Associated Factors.- 19. Critical Strain: An Engineer’s View of the Energy Balance During Deformation.- 20. Rheo-Optics.- 21. Rheo-Optical Techniques.- 22. Rheology and Morphology.