  Spin-1 hadrons have additional structure functions not present for spin 1/2
hadrons. These could probe novel aspects of hadron structure and QCD dynamics.
For the deuteron, the tensor structure function $b_1$ inherently mixes quark
and nuclear degrees of freedom. These proceedings discuss two standard
convolution models applied to calculations of the deuteron $b_1$ structure
functions. We find large differences with the existing HERMES data and other
convolution model calculations. This leaves room for non-standard contributions
to $b_1$ in the deuteron. We also discuss the influence of higher twist nuclear
effects in the model calculations and data extraction at kinematics covered in
HERMES and Jefferson Lab.
