Polymer Rheology: Theory and Practice

Rheology has long been treated as the theoretical foundation of polymer processing and in recent years it has been a rapidly developing field of science. This book presents a comprehensive discussion of the various aspects of both theoretical and applied rheology. Attention is focused on those aspects that are most important today, namely the general laws of rheological behaviour of composite systems, including blends of polymers, copolymers and filled compositions. It is the structural features of these systems that ensure their useful properties as materials intended for engineering purposes. Although this work is not conceived as a textbook, it should serve as an aid for senior undergraduates and postgraduates with an interest in polymer rheology. It is accessible to both the experienced worker and the beginner, and should be useful to those in the field of the mechanics of non-Newtonian liquids and to specialists in the production and processing of polymer materials. This book should also be of interest to polymer scientists, industrial chemists and chemical engineers, and postgraduate students and researchers in applied rheology.