This book on "Polymer Fracture" might as well have been called "Kinetic
Theory of Polymer Fracture". The term "kinetic theory", however, needs
some de- finition or, at least, some explanation. A kinetic theory deals
with and particu- larly considers the effect of the existence and
discrete size, of the motion and of the physical properties of molecules
on the macroscopic behavior of an ensemble, gaseous or other. A kinetic
theory of strength does have to consider additional aspects such as
elastic and anelastic deformations, chemical and physical reactions, and
the sequence and distribution of different disintegration steps. In the
last fifteen years considerable progress has been made in the latter do-
mains. The deformation and rupture of molecular chains, crystals, and
morphologi- cal structures have been intensively investigated. The
understanding of the effect of those processes on the strength of
polymeric materials has especially been furthered by the development and
application of spectroscopical methods (ESR, IR) and of the tools
offracture mechanics. It is the aim of this book to relate the
conventional and successful statistical, parametrical, and continuum
mechanical treatment of fracture phenomena to new results on the
behavior of highly stressed molecular chains.