Through a balanced combination of theory and experiments, this book provides a detailed overview of the main and most up-to-date advances in the area of polymeric materials. Because the subject is essentially interdisciplinary and brings together scientists and engineers with different educational backgrounds, the book offers a research-oriented exposition of the fundamentals as well. The book is based on the editors' and authors' extensive experience in research, development, and education in the field of materials science, and especially polymer testing, polymer diagnostics, and failure analysis. A comprehensive coverage of the methods of polymer testing is provided along with the results of the authors' work on deformation and fracture behavior of polymers. This book will be useful to faculty as well as advanced-level students in materials science, materials technology, plastic technology, mechanical engineering, process engineering, and chemical engineering.