Strain-Temperature-Transformation (STT) Diagram for Soft Solids

Soft materials comprise a variety of physical states that are easily deformed by shear stains or thermal fluctuations. They include suspensions, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, liquid crystals, and a number of biological materials. In this contribution, a generalized strain-temperature-transformation (STT) diagram for many soft materials is presented in which the physical states encountered are related to the strain and temperature changes. The boundary defined for the solid-to–liquid transformation in the STT diagram displays a surprising Z-shaped curve. We discuss this feature with respect to the physical nature of materials.