Definition of chain orientation

Chain orientation should not be confused with mechanical strains or frozen-in deformations. Orientation is the result of deformation but a given strain may result in very different degrees of orientation, as the following example illustrates. 

The average end-to-end distance r)o of a random coil molecule is given by  

The strain (A) necessary to reach the completely aligned state is given by the expression  

The strain to reach full extension, i.e. to attain complete orientation, thus increases with the square 

The contribution to polarization along 2 from the transverse polarization of the segment (i.e. along 2 ) is by analogy equal to 2 0. The total 

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