Structure and rheology of molten polymers : from structure to flow behavior and back again /

This book presents the current state of knowledge of the relations between the molecular structure of molten polymers and their rheological properties (i.e., flow behavior). Dealy (McGill Univ., Montreal) and Larson (Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor) are eminently qualified experts on the subject, from both theoretical and experimental aspects. Early chapters introduce polymer physics and chemistry and rheological concepts for readers with limited familiarity with these subjects, and serve as background for the advanced treatment of more complex structure-property relationships in later chapters. The authors do a good job in summarizing a very complex and advanced subject in as simple terms as possible, sometimes relying on qualitative descriptions and liberal citations to other references for many of the mathematical and technical details. The book is an excellent summary of the present state of the art with regard to polymer melt structure-property relationships. However, it emphasizes that there remain significant gaps in achieving the ultimate goal of being able to predict molecular structure from rheological measurements and vice versa, especially with regard to polymers with broad molecular weight distribution and/or branching in nonlinear systems that limit the potential applications. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Graduate students; faculty and researchers. R. Darby emeritus, Texas A&M University