Modelling of temperature-related phenomena in polymers

Abstract In comparison with metals, the characteristic temperatures at which polymers change their behaviour are significantly smaller. Temperature-related or temperature-driven phenomena in meltable thermoplastics, weakly crosslinked elastomers or highly crosslinked thermosets have their origin in physical or chemical changes on the microscale. On the macroscopic scale, the mechanical, thermal and caloric properties of polymers change. Some of these phenomena are reversible, others are irrevers