Macromolecular Science & Engineering

Our lives are dominated by giant molecules, which have remarkable properties, some of which are only just being discovered and exploited by science, though many have long been exploited far more effectively by Nature. Giant molecules dominate our lives - from the proteins and DNA within us to the man-made fibres of our clothes and the many plastics that we use every day. And they are set to have an enormous impact on the future, as scientists and engineers learn from nature (biomimetics),and utilize the full potential of tiny carbon nanotubes. The possibilities may seem like science fiction - a space station tethered to Earth by cables of giant molecules, tiny molecular vehicles carrying and dispensing drugs in our bodies, smart materials that adjust automatically to optimize our comfort, minute computers utilizing the information storage capacity of DNA - but they are the subjects of cutting edge research. Walter Gratzer gives a fascinating account of the discovery and variety of giant molecules, how they come to have their remarkable properties, and how these are used by Nature and increasingly by us, pausing now and again to tell of some of the remarkable characters involved in their discovery and development.

Introduction to Macromolecular Science provides a broad introduction to polymer science, including polymer structure, techniques for synthesis, properties in solution, and the technology of polymeric materials. This revised Second Edition presents up-to-date information on the newest aspects of polymer science, as well as expanded, comprehensive treatments of foundational techniques and theories. Additionally, each chapter concludes with a list of references for further research, a set of review questions, and a list of theoretical derivations and numerical problems. Other new features of this edition include: Coverage of recent synthetic procedures for polymers, such as living radical and cationic polymerizations, group transfer polymerization, polymerizations using metallocene and metathesis catalysts, and syntheses leading to dendrimers Expanded material on separation techniques and the technological facets of polymer processing An introduction to the techniques used for studying the structure of nucleic acids Techniques for studying polymer surfaces and polymeric membranes Topics such as polymer nomenclature, liquid crystalline polymers, and block copolymer micelles Introduction to Macromolecular Science, Second Edition is an essential volume for students and scholars of chemistry and chemical engineering, as well as polymer researchers, chemists, and chemical engineers in government and industry.

Thoroughly updated, Introduction to Polymers, Third Edition presents the science underpinning the synthesis, characterization and properties of polymers. The material has been completely reorganized and expanded to include important new topics and provide a coherent platform for teaching and learning the fundamental aspects of contemporary polymer science. New to the Third EditionPart IThis first part covers newer developments in polymer synthesis, including `living¿ radical polymerization, catalytic chain transfer and free-radical ring-opening polymerization, along with strategies for the synthesis of conducting polymers, dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers and block copolymers. Polymerization mechanisms have been made more explicit by showing electron movements. Part IIIn this part, the authors have added new topics on diffusion, solution behaviour of polyelectrolytes and field-flow fractionation methods. They also greatly expand coverage of spectroscopy, including UV visible, Raman, infrared, NMR and mass spectroscopy. In addition, the Flory¿Huggins theory for polymer solutions and their phase separation is treated more rigorously. Part IIIA completely new, major topic in this section is multicomponent polymer systems. The book also incorporates new material on macromolecular dynamics and reptation, liquid crystalline polymers and thermal analysis. Many of the diagrams and micrographs have been updated to more clearly highlight features of polymer morphology. Part IVThe last part of the book contains major new sections on polymer composites, such as nanocomposites, and electrical properties of polymers. Other new topics include effects of chain entanglements, swelling of elastomers, polymer fibres, impact behaviour and ductile fracture. Coverage of rubber-toughening of brittle plastics has also been revised and expanded.

The book provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on the physical properties of polymers including, viscoelasticity, flammability, miscibility, optical properties, surface properties and more. Containing carefully selected reprints from the Wiley's renowned Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, this reference features the same breadth and quality of coverage and clarity of presentation found in the original.

Offers an overview of recent advances in multiphase polymeric materials, ranging from theoretical aspects of polymer miscibility and phase separation kinetics to bulk, surface and interface properties in polymeric materials. This work considers the possibility of a nondestructive methodology to investigative multiphase polymers based mainly on a scattering technique that is sensitive to changes in the phase behaviour of multicomponent polymer systems.