Thermodynamics and relaxation. The relationship between memory for past history and equilibrium

Thermodynamic theory is traditionally developed without any consideration of time. This procedure has been successful for materials and phenomena which have either exceedingly long or exceedingly short relaxation times. Polymers have typically relaxation times comparable to the time scale of actual experiments, and a basically new approach to thermodynamic theory is thus required. p]The modern mathematical theory of relaxation thermodynamics is briefly reviewed, and its application to polymers is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for an appropriate definition of equilibrium. Connections with polymer physics are briefly discussed.