Understanding the elastic properties of polymer melts is necessary for ensuring successful polymer processing and thus producing high-quality plastic parts. Furthermore, the elastic behavior of melts can be used to support the characterization of polymeric materials. This unique book is the first to focus comprehensively on these important topics.
Starting with the molecular origin of elastic behavior and an explanation of the physical quantities involved, experimental methods and the dependence of elastic behavior on experimental parameters and molecular structure are presented. Elastic properties of filled and unfilled polymer systems are compared, and polymer blends considered. Elastic effects in various applications are discussed, such as extrudate swell, internal stresses, and shrinkage of films and sleeves.