ABSTRACT
The study of mechanical properties of amorphous polymers at small deformations has been one of the most fruitful areas in polymer science. For uncross-linked polymer melts, experimental results from measurements in the linear viscoelasticity regime are accurately described by theoretical models and empirical generalizations. For cross-linked amorphous networks, the equation for equilibrium elasticity is broadly considered as of the successes of statistical mechanics. However, even at small deformations, partly crystalline and heterogeneous, reinforced materials continue to present insurmountable challenges for mechanical modeling at all length scales. The situation regarding the ultimate properties of all materials (tensile strength, fatigue strength, impact strength, burst strength) is even more nebulous, although there is a vast store of empirical knowledge.
