ABSTRACT
The distinction, as will be discussed in the following chapters, between solids and solid-like materials will be based on a combination of structural and mechanical (rheological and fracture) characteristics of the systems. It is done in this way to combine in the most feasible manner the differences seen by, primarily, researchers and, to a lesser extent, consumers. The order of the chapters is primarily based on the degree of difficulty of the relation between structure and mechanical properties. The discussion will be limited to relatively simple systems and to the more general principles. Composite materials with a highly complicated structure are considered to be outside the scope of this book. In those cases, the relations are often quite product-specific.
