Rheology, the science that studies the flow and deformation of complex materials, plays a crucial role in polymer engineering. On the one hand, rheology is essential in defining the response of the polymeric material under processing conditions. This has been the main role of rheology in polymer engineering for almost a century. On the other hand, more recently, rheology has become a very important, if not indispensable tool to unveil the microstructure of polymeric materials in the melt, solution and gel states, thus contributing to the development of new polymeric materials for engineering applications. The aim of this special issue of Journal of Polymer Engineering is to pay a tribute to rheology and to its role in the polymer science and technology area. The issue contains eight contributions coming from all over the world and fromboth academia and industry. The ample variety of the topics addressed confirms that rheology is still very much alive and determinant for the advancement of the polymer engineering culture. We would like to thank all of the authors for their contributions to this special issue. Also, we take this opportunity to thank the journal’s editorial office for the valuable help in processing the manuscripts received for this special issue.

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特刊：聚合物工程流变学

流变学是研究复杂材料流动和变形的科学，在聚合物工程中起着至关重要的作用。一方面，流变学对于定义聚合物材料在加工条件下的响应至关重要。近一个世纪以来，这一直是流变学在聚合物工程中的主要作用。另一方面，最近，流变学已成为揭示聚合物材料在熔体、溶液和凝胶状态下的微观结构的非常重要的工具，即使不是必不可少的工具，也有助于开发用于工程应用的新型聚合物材料。Journal of Polymer Engineering 本期特刊的目的是向流变学及其在聚合物科学和技术领域中的作用致敬。该问题包含来自世界各地以及学术界和工业界的八项贡献。所涉及的各种主题证实了流变学仍然非常活跃，并且是聚合物工程文化进步的决定性因素。我们要感谢所有作者为本期特刊做出的贡献。此外，我们借此机会感谢期刊编辑部在处理本期特刊收到的手稿方面提供的宝贵帮助。