We revisit the Simha-Somcynsky model of polymer fluids with the purpose of developing novel theoretical and computational approaches to simplify and speed up its solution as well as the fitting of experimental data

and decrease its level of mathematical complexity. We report a novel method that allows us to solve one of the two equations of the model exactly

thus putting the level of mathematical difficulty on a par with the one of other models for polymer fluids. Moreover

we describe a computational algorithm capable of fitting all five parameters of the model in an unbiased way. The results obtained reproduce literature results and fit experimental pressure-volume-temperature and solubility parameter data for three polymers very accurately. Moreover

the new techniques allow for the investigation of the model at very low temperatures. Unexpectedly

the model predicts behaviors that could be interpreted as a glass transition

as routinely observed in dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry

and a glass phase. We compared the predicted and experimental

T

g

’s for

cis

poly(1

4-butadiene) and found an excellent quantitative agreement.