Rubber and Artificial Resins as “Liquids with Fixed Structures”
Abstract Numerous investigations, particularly in recent years, have served to throw much light on the relation between the inner structure and mechanical properties of artificial substances. The rapidly developing, industrial production of artificial materials has given considerable impetus to these investigations, since, as has often been pointed out, the solid state of organic materials represents the practical and usable form of artificial products. Basing his opinion on the fundamental researches of Tammann, Jenckel has classified many artificial substances as glasses; Houwink and others have seen in colloidal structures certain fundamentally important principles; and Kuhn, starting from purely theoretical reasoning, has explained rubberlike elasticity on a basis of molecular kinetics. In renewing the study of the freezing of liquids, an idea was developed which proved to be very helpful in guiding further research, and represented a step toward a better understanding of earlier theories. This new point of view will be discussed in the following pages.