Polymer Mechanics: Entropic Origin of Material Properties

This lecture explores the entropic origin of material properties in polymers, focusing on the deformation behavior of elastomers. It covers topics such as the temperature dependence of rigidity, the role of chain length in material stiffness, and the impact of crosslinks on material properties. The lecture delves into the concept of master curves to describe mechanical behavior over a wide range of deformation rates. It also discusses the WLF equation and the superposition principle in viscoelasticity. The lecture concludes with a comparison of mechanical properties of different polymers and the importance of considering manufacturer-provided data for material design.