The principal properties of polymers

Polymers consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen, and one of the principal properties of this group of 

The behaviour of polymers under stress is very variable and depends on the polymer structure and microstructure. Thermoplastic polymers are brittle at low temperatures and are easily deformed and 

One of the principal properties shown by polymers relates to this aspect of chemical stability. Polymers do not degrade rapidly and present an eyesore in many parts of the world. The ease of 

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It is through the solid state characteristics of polymers that we - as users - primarily interact with them. For convenience, we can divide the principal properties of polymers into five categories mechanical, optical, surface contact, barrier, and electrical. Weather resistance is a sixth category that can influence each of the other five categories. In order to understand these properties we must be able to quantify them. In this chapter we shall concentrate on measurement techniques, since it is through these methods that we learn how a polymer will behave during use. 

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