An overview of the nonequilibrium behavior of polymer glasses

An overview is given of the nonequilibrium behavior of polymeric glasses. While the emphasis is to display the significant effects of the nonequilibrium behavior on observable properties, some general basics of the glass transition behavior and nonequilibrium behavior are also presented. Both molecular as well as phenomenological explanations of the nonequilibrium phenomenon are considered. The overview is not meant to be exhaustive but has the principal objective to introduce and educate the newcomer to this topic of polymer science. (Author)