The Physics of Deformation and Fracture of Polymers

A physical, mechanism-based presentation of the plasticity and fracture of polymers, covering industrial scale applications through to nanoscale biofluidic devices.

A. S. Argon (Author)

9780521821841, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 March 2013

534 pages, 235 b/w illus. 15 tables
25.3 x 18.2 x 2.8 cm, 1.18 kg

'This is an excellent book on inelastic deformation and fracture of polymers from a mechanistic point of view. It is written by a leading researcher who has studied this subject at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for more than thirty years. A large part of the book is based on the author's own contribution to the field. It is concisely written yet contains sufficient details. This book is a good reference for graduate students as well as engineers in the field.' SuPing Lyu, MRS Bulletin

Demonstrating through examples, this book presents a mechanism-based perspective on the broad range of deformation and fracture response of solid polymers. It draws on the results of probing experiments and considers the similar mechanical responses of amorphous metals and inorganic compounds to develop advanced methodology for generating more precise forms of modelling. This, in turn, provides a better fundamental understanding of deformation and fracture phenomena in solid polymers. Such mechanism-based constitutive response forms have far-reaching application potential in the prediction of structural responses and in tailoring special microstructures for tough behaviour. Moreover, they can guide the development of computational codes for deformation processing of polymers at any level. Applications are wide-ranging, from large strain industrial deformation texturing to production of precision micro-fluidic devices, making this book of interest to both advanced graduate students and to practising professionals.

1. Structure of non-polymeric glasses
2. Structure of solid polymers
3. Overview of deformation and fracture mechanisms
4. Small strain elastic response
5. Linear visco-elasticity of polymers
6. Rubber elasticity
7. Inelastic behaviour of non-polymeric glasses
8. Inelastic behaviour of glassy polymers
9. Plasticity of semi-crystalline polymers
10. Deformation instabilities in extensional plastic flow of polymers
11. Crazing in glassy homo and hetero polymers
12. Fracture of polymers
13. Toughening of brittle polymers.

Subject Areas: Mechanics of solids [TGMD], Mechanical engineering [TGB], Plastics & polymers technology [TDCP], Condensed matter physics [liquid state & solid state physics PHFC]