Limiting concepts in extensional flow

A characteristic feature of extensional flows is their potential capability of determining a stable, oriented structure in liquid materials containing elongated particles. With reference to flexible linear macromolecules, either in solution or as polymer melts, the limiting conditions under which such an oriented structure is actually possible are critically reviewed. It is seen that orientation can be obtained either when entanglements are present, i.e. when the polymer molecules form some sort of network, or, if the molecules behave entirely individually, only under very special circumstances. Further, if the objective is the “freezing” of the oriented structure in a partly crystalline, high‐strength material, the conditions become even more restrictive.