Polymer Textbook

This successful textbook undergoes a change of character in the third edition. Where earlier editions covered organic polymer chemistry, the third edition covers both physical and organic chemistry. Thus kinetics and thermodynamics of polymerization reactions are discussed.

When non-mass spectrometrists are talking about mass spectrometry it rather often sounds as if they were telling a story out of Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagi- tion. Indeed, mass spectrometry appears to be regarded as a mysterious method, just good enough to supply some molecular weight information. Unfortunately, this rumor about the dark side of analytical methods reaches students much earlier than their first contact with mass spectrometry. Possibly, some of this may have been bred by mass spectrometrists themselves who tended to celebrate each mass spectrum they obtained from the gigantic machines of the early days. Of course, there were also those who enthusiastically started in the 1950s to develop mass spectrometry out of the domain of physics to become a new analytical tool for chemistry. Nonetheless, some oddities remain and the method which is to be introduced herein is not always straightforward and easy. If you had asked me, the author, just after having finished my introductory course whether mass spectrometry would become my preferred area of work, I surely would have strongly denied. On the other hand, J. J. Veith's mass spectrometry laboratory at Darmstadt Univ- sity was bright and clean, had no noxious odors, and thus presented a nice contrast to a preparative organic chemistry laboratory. Numerous stainless steel flanges and electronics cabinets were tempting to be explored and – whoops – infected me with CMSD (chronic mass spectrometry disease).

W ALL ARE SURROUNDED by plastic materials and cannot imagine modem life and utilities without the synthetic polymers. And yet, how many of us can distinguish between polyethylene and PVC? After all, most people name any polymer as ''Nylon. /I Is there any distinction between polymers and plastics? This introductory textbook tries to answer these questions and many others. It endeavors to provide the basic information required in modem life about the best utilization of new materials in the plastics era; the chemical sources of synthetic polymers, and the processes in which small"simple" molecules are converted to giant macromolecules, namely, high polymers; and the understanding of the role of these unique structures, their behavior and performance, their mechanical and thermal properties, flow and deforma­ tion. As we are mainly interested in the final product, the processing of plastics, through shaping and forming, presents a significant challenge to polymer engineering. All this is broadly discussed, ending with modem issues like composites, ecology and future prediction, followed by up-to-date informa­ tion and data about old as well as novel high performance polymers. The text is particularly targeted towards senior students of science and engineering (chemical, material, mechanical and others) who may use it as the first window to the world of polymers. At the same time many profession­ als who are involved in the resin or plastics industry may prefer this approach without elaborate math or overloading.

This successor to the popular textbook, “Polymer Physics” (Springer, 1999), is the result of a quarter-century of teaching experience as well as critical comments from specialists in the various sub-fields, resulting in better explanations and more complete coverage of key topics.

This comprehensive textbook describes the synthesis, characterization and technical and engineering applications of polymers. Offering a broad and balanced introduction to the basic concepts of macromolecular chemistry and to the synthesis and physical chemistry of polymers, it is the ideal text for graduate students and advanced Masters students starting out in polymer science.