ABSTRACT
Polymers are viscoelastic materials, meaning that they can act as liquids, the “visco” portion, and as solids, the “elastic” portion. Description of the viscoelastic properties of materials generally falls within the area called rheology. Determination of the viscoelastic behavior of materials generally occurs through stress/strain and related measurements. Whether a material behaves as a viscous or an elastic material depends on temperature, the particular polymer and its prior treatment, polymer structure, and the particular measurement or conditions applied to the material. The particular property demonstrated by a material under given conditions allows polymers to act as solid or viscous liquids, as plastics, elastomers, or fibers, etc. This chapter deals with the viscoelastic properties of polymers.
