For this reason it is important to understand the fluid mechanics of polymer melts and solutions. Yet at the same time polymer fluid mechanics poses a number of challenges not present in the classical Newtonian fluid mechanics of low molecular weight fluids.
Polymeric fluids show at the same time both viscous and elastic properties.
Furthermore polymeric fluids are generally strongly nonlinear with both strain hardening and thinning occurring depending upon the type of deformation involved. Progress in polymer fluid mechanics requires knowledge of theoretical and experimental rheology, structural theories, numerical methods and several other disciplines. The talk will give an introduction to this challenging field with examples of new developments for possible future applications.