Polymers: Structures, Properties, and Aging

This book is an educational and scientific resource intended primarily for mechanical engineering students. It covers the fundamental concepts related to the structure, synthesis, properties, and processing of polymeric materials. The relationships between macromolecular architecture, morphology, and polymer behavior are explored to provide a better understanding of how structure influences performance. The book also presents the main industrial processing methods, including extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, and calendering. Particular attention is given to the rheology of molten polymers, as well as to aging and degradation phenomena that can alter their properties and durability in service.