This book reflects understanding of property enhancement through development of molecular structure. It focuses on liquid crystalline and semicrystalline polymers that provide a state of the art knowledge of the molecular organizations.

Telechelic polymers have garnered a great deal of scientific interest due to their reactive chain-end functions. This comprehensive book compiles and details the basic principles of and cutting-edge research in telechelic polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyethers, ranging from synthesis to applications. It discusses general strategies toward telechelic polymers, centered on the fundamental aspects of polycondensation reactions, of cationic, anionic, coordination-insertion, and activated monomer mechanisms of the metal-, enzyme-, or otherwise organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers, and of postpolymerization chemical modification methods of polymer precursors. All main classes of polymers are covered separately, comprising polyhydroxyalkanoates, poly( -caprolactone)s, poly(lactic acid)s, polylactides, polycarobnates, and polyethers, including synthetic approaches as well as some illustrative, up-to-date examples and uses. The book also addresses applications of hydroxyl, thiol, amino, or acrylate/methacrylate end-capped polymers as starting materials for the preparation of diverse polymer architectures ranging from block, graft, and star-shaped polymers and micelles to precursors for ATRP macroinitiators, polyurethane copolymers, shape-memory polymers, or nanosized drug delivery systems. The book will appeal to advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students of polymer science; researchers in macromolecular science, especially those with an interest in functional and reactive polymers; and polymer chemists in academia and industry.

Addressing the two major unit operations-mixing and extrusion-fundamental toprocessing elastomers and plastic materials, this reference summarizes design equationsthat can be employed effectively in scaling up product performance parameters, andcontains a thorough survey of rheological principles. In addition, the book provides awealth of practical information, relating molecular and compositional properties ofpolymers to processing characteristics and end-use properties so that engineers can selectpolymers suitable for specific equipment as well as products.Polymer Mixing and Extrusion Technology examines viscometric techniquesand demonstrates their importance to product quality assurance ... reviews design-relatedliterature/correlations and calculation procedures for mixing and extrusion ... definesneeds and precision standards for setting up a polymer processing laboratory so thatproduct quality control can be implemented in physical testing and processing research.. . plus more.Illustrated with over 200 diagrams, tables, and photographs that facilitate readers'understanding of the processes, Polymer Mixing and Extrusion Technology isan authoritative source for plastics, polymer, and chemical engineers, manufacturers ofplastics processing equipment, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in thesedisciplines.

This outstanding reference presents an up-to-date account of investigations during the last10 years in the area of injection and compression molding of polymers.Injection and Compression Molding Fundamentals considers simulation andexperimentation of flow dynamics in the cavity and delivery system . . . discussesrheology and viscoelastic modeling ... clarifies fiber orientation ... delineates residualstresses and processing-property relationships in molded parts ... and details computeraideddesign and manufacture of the mold.In addition, the book highlights specific features and problems related to the molding ofthermoplastics, rubbers, and thermosets ... and reveals the current status of the sciencebasedtechnology related to injection and compression molding.The most detailed and authoritative reference of its type, Injection and CompressionMolding Fundamentals is an invaluable resource for plastics, mechanical, andchemical engineers; colloid, oil, and color chemists; polymer engineers and scientists;mold designers and manufacturers; rheologists; and materials scientists. The book willalso be of value for use in graduate-level courses in plastics, mechanical, chemical, andpolymer engineering, and in short courses and seminars offered by professional societies.

Polymers have been used as dielectric materials owing to their light weight, great flexibility, and processability as well as high insulation properties. To enhance their performance for various desired dielectric applications, fabrication of polymeric nanocomposites is believed to be one of the most effective approaches. By controlling the nanomaterial dispersion and interfacial structures with the polymer matrices in nanocomposites, dielectric properties can be tailored for specific applications. This book reviews representative polymer nanocomposite systems, focusing on the roles of nanodispersion, interfacial structures, and properties of polymer matrix materials in the dielectric properties and energy storage performance. The book reviews various dielectric relaxation models applicable to the analysis of polymer nanocomposites. It compiles the recent progress in new dielectric polymer nanocomposites based on biomaterials and hybrid nanomaterial systems for advanced dielectric applications.

"Volume 1 of this outstanding resource concentrates on safety and environmental concerns in the manufacture and use of resins, and thoroughly discusses theories of degradation, plasticization, solvation, and stabilization. "

This book provides solutions to many vital questions on the important property differences and advantages of individual engineering thermoplastics. It is useful for executives; managers; design, materials, and sales engineers; researchers; materials and product manufacturers; and compounders.

This comprehensive, long-needed reference provides the thorough understanding required tomodify and manipulate rigid PVC's thermal/shear sensitivity and rheological properties, helpingyou utilize rigid PVC most effectively in manufacturing applications as diverse as pipes,house siding, bottles , window frames, and packaging films.With complete, up-to-the-minute coverage in one convenient source, Engineering with RigidPVC encompasses rheological principles, resin properties, and additive modification, as wellas polymer preparation, melt processing, and forming techniques ... major conversion operationsand their manufacturing applications-including actual commercial formulations andprocesses .. . quality control procedures necessary to monitor compounding processes ...aspects of processability critical for product development and improvement .. . and muchmore.International in scope, this time- and money-saver is an eseential daily resource for all professionalsinvolved in Engineering with Rigid PVC, including plastics engineers, polymer chemists,process engineers, and plastics processors and technicians. Furthermore, the volume isideal for training programs and professional seminars, and is an outstanding supplement forstudents in polymer chemistry , materials science , and plastics engineering.

Photochromic polymer systems are of two main types - those which are merely solid solutions of photochromes in polymeric matrices and those custom-designed polymers which inherently exhibit photochromism. This book provides a concise review of developments in such systems over the past two decades. The coverage has been limited specifically to applied systems, or areas with potential applications, although over 500 references cite much of the literature on the fundamentals of the subject. The book aims to complement existing and recent books on photochromism which deal with low molecular weight photochromic systems mainly from a more fundamental perspective. It should appeal to industrial and academic researchers in materials science, chemistry, physics and electronics.

The process of cryogelation has been vigorously studied over the past two decades, with recent research focussing on applications of these polymer systems in various biomedical and biotechnological fields. While there is significant literature available as research publications, limited reviews, and book chapters, Supermacroporous Cryogels: Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications is the first dedicated book on the subject. It thoroughly explores all aspects of cryogels from synthesis to applications in medical and biotechnological research and practice. Presenting the work of researchers from around the globe, this book addresses three key components of cryogelation, starting with an overview of the unique inherent properties of cryogels and their synthesis and optimization from various natural and synthetic polymers. It also focusses on the surface modification of cryogels as well as factors that affect their properties. The second component is a discussion of the biomedical aspects of cryogels, categorically describing their biocompatible nature and their recent usage in medical imaging by creating phantoms of various tissues and using tissue engineering to regenerate various tissues. The third reviews a wide range of applications of cryogels in biotechnology, including biocatalysis, cell separation, wastewater treatment, high throughput processes, and bioreactors. A comprehensive look at the process of cryogelation and an up-to-date account of significant developments in cryogel research, Supermacroporous Cryogels provides a single source of information beneficial to unacquainted readers as well as experts wanting to know about current research and practice regarding cryogels in medicine, technology, chemistry, and materials science and engineering.

A practical guide to polymer coatings that covers all aspects from materials to applications Polymer Coatings is a practical resource that offers an overview of the fundamentals to the synthesis, characterization, deposition methods, and recent developments of polymer coatings. The text includes information about the different polymers and polymer networks in use, resins for solvent- and water-based coatings, and a variety of additives. It presents deposition methods that encompass frequently used mechanical and electrochemical approaches, in addition to the physical-chemical aspects of the coating process. The author covers the available characterization methods including spectroscopic, morphological, thermal and mechanical techniques. The comprehensive text also reviews developments in selected technology areas such as electrically conductive, anti-fouling, and self-replenishing coatings. The author includes insight into the present status of the research field, describes systems currently under investigation, and draws our attention to yet to be explored systems. This important text: * Offers a thorough overview of polymer coatings and their applications * Covers different classes of materials, deposition methods, coating processes, and ways of characterization * Contains a text that is designed to be accessible and helps to apply the acquired knowledge immediately * Includes information on selected areas of research with imminent application potential for functional coatings Written for chemists in industry, materials scientists, polymer chemists, and physical chemists, Polymer Coatings offers a text that contains the information needed to gain an understanding of the charaterization and applications of polymer coatings.

This book covers a range of topics of interest to those involved in the fractionation and characterization of polymeric substances. It deals with problems that are encountered in modern gel permeation chromatography with dual detection when calculating average molecular weights.

Inorganic-Whisker-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications gives a comprehensive presentation of inorganic microcrystalline fibers, or whiskers, a polymer composite filler. It covers whisker synthesis, surface modification, applications for reinforcing polymer-matrix composites, and analysis of resulting filled polymer composites. It focuses on calcium carbonate whiskers as a primary case study, introducing surface treatment methods for calcium carbonate whiskers and factors that influence them. Along with calcium carbonate, the book discusses potassium titanate and aluminum borate whiskers, which also comprise the new generation of inorganic whiskers. According to research results, composites filled by inorganic whiskers show improved strength, wear-resistance, thermal conductivity, and antistatic properties. It explains the importance of modifying polymer materials for use with inorganic whiskers and describes preparation and evaluation methods of polymers filled with inorganic whiskers. The book also considers possible challenges and solutions in synthesis and applications of polymers filled with inorganic whiskers. It summarizes the latest practices and research progress in China and elsewhere. With much of its information being new outside of China, Inorganic-Whisker-Reinforced Polymer Composites calls attention to the excellent promise displayed by applications of inorganic whiskers. They have the potential for wide and durable application and also for further development. This book demonstrates their potential and presents current and future directions in polymer science and inorganic whiskers.

This book presents some fascinating phenomena associated with the remarkable features of high performance polymers and also provides an update on applications of modern polymers. It offers new research on structure-property relationships, synthesis, and purification, and potential applications of high performance polymers. The collection of topics in this book reflects the diversity of recent advances in modern polymers with a broad perspective that will be useful for scientists as well as for graduate students and engineers. The book helps to fill the gap between theory and practice. It explains the major concepts of new advances in high performance polymers and their applications in a friendly, easy-to-understand manner. The book opens with a presentation of classical models, moving on to increasingly more complex quantum mechanical and dynamical theories. Coverage and examples are drawn from modern polymers.

This book provides a vast amount of information on new approaches, limitations, and control on current polymers and chemicals complexity of various origins, on scales ranging from single molecules and nano-phenomena to macroscopic chemicals. Starting with a detailed introduction, the book is comprised of chapters that survey the current progress in particular research fields. The chapters, prepared by leading international experts, yield together a fascinating picture of a rapidly developing research discipline that brings chemical technology and polymers to new frontiers.

Functionalized Polysulfones: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications focuses on polysulfones and their derivatives, which are widely used as functional materials in the biochemical, industrial, and medical fields due to their structural and physical characteristics, such as good optical properties, high thermal and chemical stability, mechanical strength, resistance to extreme pH values, and low creep. Because of their antimicrobial actions, solubility characteristics, water permeability, and separation, the functional groups, which modify the hydrophilicity of polysulfones, are of particular interest for biomedical applications. In addition, the functional groups are an intrinsic requirement for affinity, ion exchange, and other special membranes. In this book, the bioapplications of polysulfones are presented in two categories: blood-contacting devices (e.g., membranes for hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, and hemofiltration) and cell- or tissue-contacting devices (e.g., bioreactors made by hollow-fiber membrane and nerve generation through polysulfone semipermeable hollow membrane). Surface wettability and hydrophilicity trends, as well as the morphological characteristics of modified polysulfones, are analyzed for semipermeable membrane purposes. Select chapters provide an introduction to chelating units on the modified polysulfone structure to obtain potential applications, such as surface coatings on metals and glasses, adhesives, high-temperature lubricants, electrical insulators, semiconductors, and the reduction of heavy-metal pollution in ecosystems. Featuring recent scientific information, Functionalized Polysulfones: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications advances the basic knowledge of students and researchers working in the field of polymeric materials, including physicists, chemists, engineers, bioengineers, and biologists.

Cellulose-Based Graft Copolymers: Structure and Chemistry discusses the synthesis, characterization, and properties of multifunctional cellulose-based graft copolymers. Presenting the contributions of accomplished experts in the field of natural cellulosic polymers, this authoritative text: Offers an overview of cutting-edge technical accomplishments in natural cellulose-based graft polymers Addresses a separate biomaterial in each chapter, exploring composition as well as graft copolymerization chemistry Covers fundamentals and applications including toxic ion removal, biomedical engineering, biofuels, micro/nano composites, papermaking, building materials, and defense Cellulose-Based Graft Copolymers: Structure and Chemistry tackles several critical issues and provides suggestions for future work, supplying deeper insight into the state of the art of advanced cellulose-based graft copolymers.

"Flame Retardant Polymer Nanocomposites" takes a comprehensive look at polymer nanocomposites for flame retardancy applications and includes nanocomposite fundamentals (theory, design, synthesis, characterization) as well as polymer flammability fundamentals with emphasis on how nanocomposites affect flammability.

The book has practical examples from literature, patents, and existing commercial products. Readers can design new work based upon the material in the book or use it as a handy reference for interpreting existing work and results.

Electrochemical Polymer Electrolyte Membranes covers PEMs from fundamentals to applications, describing their structure, properties, characterization, synthesis, and use in electrochemical energy storage and solar energy conversion technologies. Featuring chapters authored by leading experts from academia and industry, this authoritative text: Discusses cutting-edge methodologies in PEM material selection and fabrication Points out important challenges in developing PEMs and recommends mitigation strategies to improve PEM performance Analyzes the current integration of PEMs with primary power devices and explores research trends for the next generation of PEMs Electrochemical Polymer Electrolyte Membranes provides a systematic overview of the state of the art of PEM development, making the book a beneficial resource for researchers, students, industrial professionals, and manufacturers.

This new book explores the consideration of relationships that connect the structural and basic mechanical properties of polymeric mediums within the frameworks of fractal analysis with cluster model representations attraction. Incidentally, the choice of any structural model of medium or their combinations is defined by expediency and further usage convenience only. This book presents leading-edge research in this rapidly changing and evolving field. The book presents descriptions of the main reactions of high-molecular substances within the frameworks of fractal analysis and irreversible aggregation models. Synergetics and percolation theory were also used. In spite of the enormous number of papers dealing with the influence of the medium on the rate of chemical reactions (including synthesis of polymers), no strict quantitative theory capable of "universal" application has been put forward up until now. It is now possible to describe the relationship between the reaction rate constants and the equilibrium constants with the nature of the medium in which the reactions take place by means of a single equation. This important book for the first time gives structural and physical grounds of polymers synthesis and curing, and the fractal analysis is used for this purpose. This new book: * Highlights some important areas of current interest in polymer products and chemical processes * Focuses on topics with more advanced methods * Emphasizes precise mathematical development and actual experimental details * Analyzes theories to formulate and prove the physicochemical principles * Provides an up-to-date and thorough exposition of the present state of the art of complex polymeric materials

Colloid science is the study of systems involving small particles of one substance suspended in another. The first edition was in two volumes. This second completely revised, reorganised, and updated edition is presented for the first time in a single volume. This book starts with the basics, and is simplified from the previous edition. Many exercises are included and careful development of the necessary theory is given.

Polymers have played a critical role in the rational design and application of drug delivery systems that increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of new and conventional therapeutics. Beginning with an introduction to the fundamentals of drug delivery, Engineering Polymer Systems for Improved Drug Delivery explores traditional drug delivery techniques as well as emerging advanced drug delivery techniques. By reviewing many types of polymeric drug delivery systems, and including key points, worked examples and homework problems, this book will serve as a guide to for specialists and non-specialists as well as a graduate level text for drug delivery courses.

This new two-volume set provides a broad overview of current studies in the engineering of polymers and chemicals with complexity" "of various origins, on scales ranging from single molecules and nano-phenomena to macroscopic chemicals.

Starting with a detailed introduction to the history of research on complex chemical systems and its current state of the art and perspectives, the books present chapters that survey the current progress in particular research fields. The chapters, prepared by leading international experts, create a fascinating picture of a rapidly developing research discipline that brings chemical technology and polymers to new frontiers.

These books provide innovative chapters on the growth of educational, scientific, and industrial research activities among chemists, biologists, and polymer and chemical engineers and provides a medium for mutual communication between international academia and the industry. Presenting significant research and reviews that report new methodologies and important applications in the fields of industrial chemistry, industrial polymers, and biotechnology, the books also cover chemical databases and the development of new computational methods and efficient algorithms for chemical software and polymer engineering.

This book includes papers, presented at a conference held at the University of Florida in 1969, on aspects of the technology of electronic ceramics in terms of the underlying science upon which the technology depends. It is intended for users of electronic ceramics and teachers in this field.

Combining the science of foam with the engineering of extrusion processes, Foam Extrusion: Principles and Practice delivers a detailed discussion of the theory, design, processing, and application of degradable foam extraction. In one comprehensive volume, the editors present the collective expertise of leading academic, research, and industry specialists while laying the scientific foundation in such a manner that the microscopic transition from a nucleus to a void (nucleation) and macroscopic movement from a void to an object (formation) are plausibly addressed. To keep pace with significant improvements in foam extrusion technology, this Second Edition: Includes new chapters on the latest developments in processing/thermal management, rheology/melt strength, and biodegradable and sustainable foams Features extensive updates to chapters on extrusion equipment, blowing agents, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam, and microcellular innovation Contains new coverage of cutting-edge foaming mechanisms and technology, as well as new case studies, examples, and figures Capturing the interesting evolution of the field, Foam Extrusion: Principles and Practice, Second Edition provides scientists, engineers, and product development professionals with a modern, holistic view of foam extrusion to enhance research and development and aid in the selection of the optimal screw, die design, and foaming system.