Microscopic modelling of the flow properties of polymers

The understanding of the flow behaviour of polymeric liquids is of great interest from a practical as well as a theoretical point of view. An important part of the research in this field consists of the development of suitable models, describing the rheological properties of the materials. Depending upon its purpose, such a model may be based upon empirical knowledge of the macroscopic flow behaviour or on information about the microstructure of the materials. Moreover, for a given system, different types of modelling may be possible. In order to provide an overview of the various approaches in this area the basic principles of some important models are discussed: continuum, bead-rod-spring, transient network, reptation and configuration tensor models. Emphasis has been put on a consistent treatment of the fundamentals of the various models and their interrelationship, rather than considering any of them in much detail.