This volume represents a continuation of the Polymer Science and Technology series edited by Dr. D. M. Brewis and Professor D. Briggs. The theme of the series is the production of a number of stand alone volumes on various areas of polymer science and technology. Each volume contains short articles by a variety of expert contributors outlining a particular topic and these articles are extensively cross referenced. References to related topics included in the volume are indicated by bold text in the articles, the bold text being the title of the relevant article. At the end of each article there is a list of bibliographic references where interested readers can obtain further detailed information on the subject of the article. This volume was produced at the invitation of Derek Brewis who asked me to edit a text which concentrated on the mechanical properties of polymers. There are already many excellent books on the mechanical properties of polymers, and a somewhat lesser number of volumes dealing with methods of carrying out mechanical tests on polymers. Some of these books are listed in Appendix 1. In this volume I have attempted to cover basic mechanical properties and test methods as well as the theory of polymer mechanical deformation and hope that the reader will find the approach useful.

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1:Accuracy and Errors.- 2:Adhesion of Elastomers.- 3:Adiabatic Shear Instability: Observations and Experimental Techniques.- 4:Adiabatic Shear Instability: Theory.- 5:Alloys and Blends.- 6:Amorphous Polymers.- 7:Crazing.- 8:Creep.- 9:Crystalline Polymers.- 10:Crystallinity.- 11:Ductile-Brittle Transition.- 12:Dynamic Mechanical Analysis Techniques and Complex Modulus.- 13:Electron Microscopy applied to the Study of Polymer Deformation.- 14:Environmental Effects.- 15:Falling Weight Impact Tests.- 16:Falling Weight Impact Testing Equipment.- 17:Falling Weight Impact Testing Principles.- 18:Fast Fracture in Polymers.- 19:Fatigue.- 20:The Finite Element Method.- 21:Flow Properties of Molten Polymers.- 22:Fracture Mechanics.- 23:Friction.- 24:Glass Transition.- 25:Hardness and Normal Indentation of Polymers.- 26:The Hopkinson Bar.- 27:Impact Strength.- 28:Impact and Rapid Crack Propagation Measurement Techniques.- 29:Manipulation of Poisson's Ratio.- 30:Measurement of Creep.- 31:Measurement of Poisson's Ratio.- 32:Molecular Weight Distribution and Mechanical Properties.- 33:Molecular Weight Distribution: Characterisation by GPC.- 34:Monte Carlo Techniques.- 35:Monte Carlo Techniques applied to Polymer Deformation.- 36:Neutron Scattering.- 37:Non Elastic Deformation during a Mechanical Test.- 38:Plasticisers.- 39:Poisson's Ratio.- 40:Polymer Models.- 41:Recovery of Glassy Polymers.- 42:Relaxations in Polymers.- 43:Sensors and Transducers.- 44:Slow Crack Growth and Fracture.- 45:Slow Crack Growth and Fracture: Measurement Techniques.- 46:Standards for Polymer Testing.- 47:Strain Rate Effects.- 48:Stress and Strain.- 49:Structure-Property Relationships: Glassy Polymers.- 50:Structure-Property Relationships: Large Strain.- 51:Structure-Property Relationships: RubberyPolymers.- 52:Tensile and Compressive Testing.- 53:Thermoplastics and Thermosets.- 54:Time-Temperature Equivalence.- 55:Torsion and Bend Tests.- 56:Toughening.- 57:Ultrasonic Techniques.- 58:Viscoelasticity.- 59:Wear.- 60:X-Ray scattering Methods in the Study of Polymer Deformation.- 61:Yield and Plastic Deformation.- Appendix 1: Further Reading-Selected Bibliography.- Appendix 2: Glossary.- Appendix 3: Table of mechanical properties.