Cryogenic properties of polymers

The cryogenic properties of polymers are recently drawing attention with new developments in space, superconducting magnet and electronic technologies. Requirements for polymeric materials used in cryogenic environments are extremely severe and complicated. Research aimed at meeting these requirements is focused in two directions: one concerns the physical properties of polymers at cryogenic temperatures, while the other is concerned with the unique characteristics of polymeric materials for cryogenic applications. The objective of this article is to review the thermal properties and the relaxational behavior of polymers at cryogenic temperatures, the relationship between functionality and the cryogenic relaxation of guest molecule — polymer matrix systems, and the survey of polymeric materials for various cryogenic applications.