Plastics are viscoelastic materials, meaning that they exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation. This is due to their unique molecular structure. The polymer molecules consist of long chains with high molecular weight. Those individual polymer chains are and tangled into each other, but are mobile and can slide past each other because they do not share chemical bonds with the other chains.

Because of their viscoelastic nature, the mechanical properties of plastics vary depending on the conditions under which stress is applied. Most commonly, the mechanical properties of plastics will vary with temperature, time under load, and strain rate.

Their viscoelastic nature is important to those designing, manufacturing, or using plastic components. and is a fundamental concept of plastic behavior that needs to be understood. It is important to recognize the viscoelastic nature of plastic materials so that their behavior in the intended application can be understood.

This course will expose the attendees to the following concepts:

• The viscoelastic nature of plastics is attributed to their molecular structure.
• Thermoplastic materials have both long-term and short-term properties – they flow due to the application of stress over time.
• Most mechanical testing of plastic materials is actually testing the material’s viscoelasticity – how the plastic flows when different stresses are applied.
• Plastics are time, temperature, and strain rate sensitive.

1. Plastics and Polymer Engineers
   Professionals who design, test, and specify plastic materials will benefit from understanding how viscoelasticity affects part performance, failure modes, and long‑term durability.
2. Product Design Engineers
   Mechanical and industrial designers who use plastic components in consumer products, automotive parts, medical devices, or electronics need this knowledge to choose appropriate materials and design for creep, stress relaxation, and temperature‑dependent behavior.
3. Materials Scientists and Lab Technicians
   R&D personnel and testing technicians who work with DSC, DMA, tensile testing, or long‑term creep testing will benefit from the conceptual foundation of viscoelasticity.
4. Quality Assurance & Failure Analysis Teams
   Understanding time‑ and temperature‑dependent properties is critical for diagnosing field failures, stress cracking, deformation, or unexpected part warpage.
5. Supplier & Technical Sales Engineers
   Application engineers, resin suppliers, and technical sales teams who need to support customers with accurate material-performance guidance.
6. Graduate Students / Early Career Professionals
   ​​​​​​​Students or new engineers entering plastics, polymers, or materials engineering who need foundational understanding of thermoplastic behavior.

Do you work with plastic materials that unexpectedly deform, warp, creep, or fail under load?
Are you struggling to predict how your parts will perform at different temperatures, strain rates, or service conditions?
Do you need a clearer understanding of how time‑dependent behavior affects design, testing, and manufacturing decisions?
If these challenges sound familiar, this course was designed for you.