POLYMER ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCE ON RHEOLOGY

The past two years have seen considerable advances in the important ch allenge of the relationship between polymer chain architecture and mel t theology. The promise of new polymerisation catalysts offering great er control over molecular structure in industrial quantities has given the field greater impetus. Important work in the parallel areas of co mmercial grade polymers, tailored model polymers and molecular theory has led to a quantitative understanding of linear rheology in some cas es, and the promise of at least a qualitative understanding of the puz zling but important behaviour of branched polymers under nonlinear def ormations.