Molecular motions in macromolecules under mechanic and electric force fields

General aspects of the dynamics of macromolecules are reviewed on the basis of a parallel analysis of the material response under mechanical and electric force fields.Long-range (normal and segmental dynamics) as well as short-range motions are studied on the basis of experimental data, correlation function, and memory equation techniques.Accordingly, several methods to describe the relaxational behavior of macromolecules and their pendant molecular groups are proposed.Presented as a keynote lecture at the 4th European Rheology Conference, September 4–9, 1994, Seville, Spain