From a structure-dominated performance point of view

the ultimate physical properties of polymer articles are directly related to their internal multiscale (hierarchical) structures

ranging from molecular

nanometer

submicrometer

to micrometer and mesoscope level.Since the features of hierarchical structure are strongly dependent on the external fields imposed during processing

many structural items can be well or precisely controlled

resulting in significant variables in hierarchical structure.Thanks to the fast developments of mechanical technique

various external fields

such as thermal

shear

extension

ultrasonic

electronic

magnetic

super-critical fluid fields

etc.

can be nicely introduced into polymer processing

leading to the significantly improved ability of tailoring the microstructure/morphology via processing.It is characteristic as externally applied field determined hierarchical structure

i.e.structuring processing

which represents the advance trend in the modern polymer processing area

and is of the topic of this contribution.