1. Introduction 2. Molecular structures and polymer manufacture 3. Amorphous polymers and the glass transition 4. Semi-crystalline polymers 5. Processing 6. Effects of melt processing 7. Viscoelastic behaviour 8. Yielding 9. Fracture 10. The ageing of polymers 11. Transport properties 12. Electrical properties 13. Multi-component polymers -- improving the properties of polymers 14. Design: materials, shape selection and design for the environment 15. Engineering case studies