Discover
/
Article

Two decades of high‐polymer physics: A survey and forecast

SEP 01, 1964
W. F. Busse

The twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Division of High‐Polymer Physics of the American Physical Society is an appropriate time to review the progress of polymer physics over the last two decades, and to re‐evaluate the hopes of the founders and the present need for the Division. The continuing need for our Division perhaps is best shown by the fact that each of the last two meetings have set new records for the number of papers presented. Much of this progress is due to the officers who have contributed so much of their time and effort to the Division. Those who served in the first decade were recognized in an earlier review. The officers of the last decade are shown in the accompanying table. We are indebted to all these men for their work to keep the Division running, and thus promote the progress of polymer physics.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. W. F. Busse, Physics Today, February, 1955, p. 10.

  2. 2. T. S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, University of Chicago Press, Chicago (1962).

  3. 3. See L. R. G. Treloar, The Physics of Rubber Elasticity, Oxford University Press. New York (1949), Chapter 1,
    for early history of the kinetic theory of elasticity. See also P. J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Cornell University Press, Ithaca (1953), Chapter 10.

  4. 4. (a) J. M. Davies, R. F. Miller, and W. F. Busse, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 63, 361 (1941); https://doi.org/JACSAT
    (b) See A. T. McPherson, Rubber Chem. and Technol. 36, 1230 (1963);
    F. H. Smith and R. N. Work, Am. Physical Soc. Div. High Polymer Physics, Philadelphia, Pa., Mar. 23, 1963;
    (c) V. E. Shashova, J. Polymer Sci. A1, 169 (1963).

  5. 5. (a) Dielectric Materials and Applications, A. R. von Hippel ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York (1954);
    (b) F. A. Bovey, Effects of Ionizing Radiation on High Polymers, Interscience Publishers, New York (1958);
    (c) B. Gross, J. Polymer Sci., 27, 135 (1958).

  6. 6. E. J. McMahon and J. R. Perkins, Trans. IEEE, paper 64–68, in press.

  7. 7. (a) D. D. Eley and D. I. Spivey, Trans. Faraday Soc. 57, 2280 (1961);
    (b) Proc. Princeton Univ. Conf. Semicond. Org. Solids, Princeton, N.J., February 16, 1960;
    (c) A. A. Berlin, J. Polymer Sci. 55, 621 (1961); https://doi.org/TFSOA4
    (d) Intern. Symp. Macromol. Chem., Paris, 1963,
    section on “Electronic Properties of Natural and Synthetic Polymers” published in J. Polymer Sci., G4, 1305–1494 (1963).

  8. 8. A. van Roggen, Phys. Rev. Letters 9, 368 (1962).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  9. 9. H. Leaderman, Textile Res. J. 11, 171 (1941);
    Creep of Filamentous Material, The Textile Foundation, Washington, D.C. (1943), pp. 16, 30 76ff.

  10. 10. (a) M. Mooney, J. Appl. Phys. 11, 582 (1940); https://doi.org/JAPIAU
    L. R. G. Treloar, in Rheology of Elastomers, P. Mason and N. Wookey, eds., Pergamon Press, New York (1957), p. 1;
    (b) R. S. Rivlin, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London) A241, 379 (1948);
    R. S. Rivlin and D. W. Saunders, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A243, 251 (1951); https://doi.org/PTRMAD
    (c) K. Weissenberg, Nature 159, 310 (1947).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  11. 11. See H. L. Frisch and R. Simha, in Rheology, F. Eirich, ed., Academic Press, Vol. 1, Chapter 14, for a summary of this work to 1956;
    M. Kurata and W. H. Stockmayer, Fortschr. Hochpolymer Forsch. 3, 196 (1963) summarize later developments.

  12. 12. M. A. Nawab and S. G. Mason, J. Phys. Chem. 62, 1218 (1958); https://doi.org/JPCHAX
    O. L. Forgacs and S. G. Mason, J. Colloid Sci. 14, 473 (1959); https://doi.org/JCSCA7
    H. L. Goldsmith and S. C. Mason, J. Colloid Sci. , 17, 448 (1962);
    H. Karniz, H. L. Goldsmith, and S. G. Mason, Nature 200, 159 (1963).

  13. 13. See T. G. Fox, S. Gratch, and S. Loshaek, in Rheology, F. Eirich, ed., Academic Press (1956), Chapter 12, for review of data.

  14. 14. For summaries of these theories see: (a) A. V. Tobolsky, Properties and Structure of Polymers, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1960), Chapter 4, p. 5;
    (b) J. D. Ferry, Viscoelastic Properties of Polymers, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1961), Chapter 10;
    and (c) H. Eyring, T. Ree, and N. Hirai, Proc. Nat Acad. Sci. 44, 1213 (1958).

  15. 15. W. F. Busse and R. Longworth, J. Polymer Sci. 58, 49 (1962).

  16. 16. (a) T. G. Fox, private communication;
    (b) A. K. van der Vegt, Trans. Plastics Ind. March, 1964, p. 165.

  17. 17. J. D. Ferry, op. cit., p. 262ff.

  18. 18. (a) A. S. Lodge, in Rheology of Elastomers, P. Mason and N. Wookey, eds., Pergamon Press. London (1957), p. 70;
    (b) S. J. Gill and R. Toggenburger, J. Polymer Sci. 60, 569 (1962).https://doi.org/JPSCAU

  19. 19. F. Bueche, J. Chem. Phys. 40, 484 (1964).https://doi.org/JCPSA6

  20. 20. M. Mooney, J. Polymer Sci. 34, 599 (1959).https://doi.org/JPSCAU

  21. 21. (a) M. Mooney and W. E. Wolstenholme, J. Appl. Phys. 25, 1098 (1954); https://doi.org/JAPIAU
    (b) B. Maxwell and J. C. Galt, Polymer Sci. 62, 553 (1962);
    (c) A. S. Lodge, Polymer 2, 195 (1861).

  22. 22. (a) J. R. A. Pearson, Fourth Intern. Congr. Rheol., Brown University, Providence, R.I., October 1963;
    (b) J. P. Tordella, Trans. Soc. Rheol. 1, 203 (1957).https://doi.org/TSRHAZ

  23. 23. J. M. Lupton and J. M. Regester, Soc. Plastics Engineers Journal (in press).

  24. 24. E. B. Bagley, I. M. Cabot, and D. C. West, J. Appl. Phys. 29, 109 (1958).https://doi.org/JAPIAU

  25. 25. (a) J. D. Ferry, op. cit., Chapter 11;
    (b) R. F. Boyer, Rubber Chem. and Technol. 36, 1303 (1963).

  26. 26. F. Zandman, Scientific and Technical Publications of the French Air Ministry No. 291 (1954).

  27. 27. (a) N. Bloembergen, E. M. Purcell, and R. V. Pound, Phys. Rev. 73, 679 (1948); https://doi.org/PHRVAO
    (b) W. P. Slichter and D. D. Davis, J. Appl. Phys. 34, 98 (1963).https://doi.org/JAPIAU

  28. 28. P. Debye, J. Appl. Phys. 15, 338 (1944);
    P. Debye, J. Phys. and Colloid Chem. 51, 18 (1947); https://doi.org/JAPIAU
    P. Debye, 17, 392 (1946).

  29. 29. F. A. Norris and R. S. Stein, J. Polymer Sci. 27, 87 (1958);
    R. Stein and P. R. Wilson, J. Appl. Phys. 33, 1914 (1962).https://doi.org/JAPIAU

  30. 30. E. L. Clark and L. Muus, Z. Krist. 117, 119 (1962).https://doi.org/ZEKRDZ

  31. 31. See P. H. Geil, Polymer Single Crystals, John Wiley & Sons, New York, (1963), Chapter 2, for a summary of the early work in this field.

More about the Authors

W. F. Busse. E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Del..

Related content
/
Article
Figuring out how to communicate with the public can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice for getting started.
/
Article
Amid growing investment in planetary-scale climate intervention strategies that alter sunlight reflection, global communities deserve inclusive and accountable oversight of research.
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1964_09.jpeg

Volume 17, Number 9

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.