The purpose of this book is to present in a monographic and systematised form a review of all the literature devoted to polyurethane-based polymeric sorbents in separation chemistry. The primary types of sorbents dealt with are polyurethane foams and open-pore polyurethanes. The structure of the monograph follows this dichotomy. A book of this nature should stimulate thinking and incite its reader to consult the original literature. It will, however, not make such a consultation superfluous. A fair amount of the results described in this monograph constitute the main activity of investigation which took place in the authors laboratories during the past decade.

Film Properties of Plastics and Elastomers, Fourth Edition is the only data handbook available on the engineering properties of commercial polymeric films. It details many physical, mechanical, optical, electrical and permeation properties within the context of specific test parameters, providing a ready reference for comparing materials in both the same and different families. Data is presented on the characteristics of major plastic and elastomer packaging materials, with the data in this edition updated to cover the five years since the previous edition was published. The resin chapters each contain textual summary information, including category, general description, processing methods, applications, reliability, weatherability, and regulatory approval considerations for use in food and medical packaging.

Micro and Nano Fibrillar Composites (MFCs and NFCs) from Polymer Blends is a comprehensive reference for researchers, students and scientists working in the field of plastics recycling and composites. The book aims to determine the influence of micro and nanofibrillar morphology on the properties of immiscible blend systems. Chapters cover micro and nanofibrillar composites based on polyolefin, liquid crystal polymer, biodegradable polymers, polyester and polyamide blends in various industrial application fields. The book brings together panels of highly-accomplished experts in the field of plastics recycling, blends and composites systems. For several decades, plastic technology has played an important role in many industrial applications, such as packaging, automobiles, aerospace and construction. However the increasing use of plastics creates a lot of waste. This has led to restrictions on the use of some plastics for certain applications and a drive towards recycling of plastics. More recently, microfibrillar in-situ composites have been prepared from waste plastics such as PET/PP, PET/PE and Nylon/PP as a way of formulating new high performance polymer systems. This book tackles these issues and more, and is an ideal resource for anyone interested in polymer blends.

Polymer matrix composites are finding increasing number of applications due to their high weight-saving potential as well as unique characteristics, such as high strength-to-density ratio, fatigue resistance, high damping factor, and freedom from corrosion. While many textbooks are available on the mechanics of polymer matrix composites, few cover their processing.Processing of Polymer Matrix Composites fills this gap. The book focuses on the major manufacturing processes used for polymer matrix composites and describes process details, process parameters and their effects on properties and process-induced defects, and analytical and experimental methods used for understanding process conditions. The book describes fibers, thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers, and interface characteristics that are important from the standpoint of both design and processing. It also emphasizes the applications of process fundamentals for both continuous fiber and short fiber polymer matrix composites. In addition the book considers quality inspection methods, tooling, and manufacturing costs and environmental and safety issues.

Almost all synthetic materials over time induce some level of inflammation and fibrosis. Therefore, even though the successes of biomaterials science in producing acceptable solutions to the problem of biocompatibility have been remarkable, there remains enormous opportunity for improvement. The goal is the development of intelligent materials that replicate and mimic the ability of tissues and biological materials to adapt and renew. This book describes the synthesis and the analysis of new smart polymeric materials and their practical implications in nanomedicine and biotechnology. It offers a comprehensive overview, gathering recent and innovative research on multiple aspects within the field of smart polymeric materials that offer new perspectives in developing current advanced biotechnologies. The text contains both experimental and theoretical issues that reflect the impact of the materials characteristics in target applications. It deals with recent advances in the design of new polymeric materials for advanced applications but also on the study of their structure-properties relationship in order to move from completely inert, static structures to flexible ones capable to respond to environmental changes.

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 Edition

Part I

This 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 II

In 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 III

A 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 IV

The 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.

While this edition adds many new concepts, the philosophy of the book remains unchanged. Largely self-contained, the text fully derives most equations and cross-references topics between chapters where appropriate. Each chapter not only includes a list of further reading to help readers expand their knowledge of the subject but also provides problem sets to test understanding, particularly of numerical aspects.

Table of Contents

CONCEPTS, NOMENCLATURE AND SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS

Concepts and Nomenclature

The Origins of Polymer Science and the Polymer Industry

Basic Definitions and Nomenclature

Molar Mass and Degree of Polymerization

Principles of Polymerization

Introduction

Classification of Polymerization Reactions

Monomer Functionality and Polymer Skeletal Structure

Functional Group Reactivity and Molecular Size: The Principle of Equal Reactivity

Step Polymerization

Introduction

Linear Step Polymerization

Non-Linear Step Polymerization

Radical Polymerization

Introduction to Radical Polymerization

The Chemistry of Conventional Free-Radical Polymerization

Kinetics of Conventional Free-Radical Polymerization

Free-Radical Polymerization Processes

Reversible-Deactivation (‘Living’) Radical Polymerizations

Non-Linear Radical Polymerizations

Ionic Polymerization

Introduction to Ionic Polymerization

Cationic Polymerization

Anionic Polymerization

Group-Transfer Polymerization

Stereochemistry and Coordination Polymerization

Introduction to Stereochemistry of Polymerization

Tacticity of Polymers

Geometric Isomerism in Polymers Prepared from Conjugated Dienes

Ziegler–Natta Coordination Polymerization

Metallocene Coordination Polymerization

Ring-Opening Polymerization

Introduction to Ring-Opening Polymerization

Cationic Ring-Opening Polymerization

Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization

Free-Radical Ring-Opening Polymerization

Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Specialized Methods of Polymer Synthesis

Introduction

Solid-State Topochemical Polymerization

Polymerization by Oxidative Coupling

Precursor Routes to Intractable Polymers

Supramolecular Polymerization (Polyassociation)

Copolymerization

Introduction

Step Copolymerization

Chain Copolymerization

Block Copolymer Synthesis

Graft Copolymer Synthesis

CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMERS

Theoretical Description of Polymers in Solution

Introduction

Thermodynamics of Polymer Solutions

Chain Dimensions

Frictional Properties of Polymer Molecules in Dilute Solution

Number-Average Molar Mass

Introduction to Measurements of Number-Average Molar Mass

Membrane Osmometry

Vapour Pressure Osmometry

Ebulliometry and Cryoscopy

End-Group Analysis

Effects of Low Molar Mass Impurities upon Mn

Scattering Methods

Introduction

Static Light Scattering

Dynamic Light Scattering

Small-Angle X-Ray and Neutron Scattering

Frictional Properties of Polymers in Solution

Introduction

Dilute Solution Viscometry

Ultracentrifugation

Molar Mass Distribution

Introduction

Fractionation

Gel Permeation Chromatography

Field-Flow Fractionation

Mass Spectroscopy

Chemical Composition and Molecular Microstructure

Introduction

Principles of Spectroscopy

Ultraviolet and Visible Light Absorption Spectroscopy

Infrared Spectroscopy

Raman Spectroscopy

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Mass Spectroscopy

PHASE STRUCTURE AND MORPHOLOGY OF BULK POLYMERS

The Amorphous State

Introduction

The Glass Transition

Factors Controlling the Tg

Macromolecular Dynamics

The Crystalline State

Introduction

Determination of Crystal Structure

Polymer Single Crystals

Semi-Crystalline Polymers

Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Defects in Crystalline Polymers

Crystallization

Melting

Multicomponent Polymer Systems

Introduction

Polymer Blends

Block Copolymers

PROPERTIES OF BULK POLYMERS

Elastic Deformation

Introduction

Elastic Deformation

Elastic Deformation of Polymers

Viscoelasticity

Introduction

Viscoelastic Mechanical Models

Boltzmann Superposition Principle

Dynamic Mechanical Testing

Frequency Dependence of Viscoelastic Behaviour

Transitions and Polymer Structure

Time–Temperature Superposition

Effect of Entanglements

Non-Linear Viscoelasticity

Elastomers

Introduction

Thermodynamics of Elastomer Deformation

Statistical Theory of Elastomer Deformation

Stress–Strain Behaviour of Elastomers

Factors Affecting Mechanical Behaviour

Yield and Crazing

Introduction

Phenomenology of Yield

Yield Criteria

Deformation Mechanisms

Crazing

Fracture and Toughening

Introduction

Fundamentals of Fracture

Mechanics of Fracture

Fracture Phenomena

Toughened Polymers

Polymer Composites

Introduction to Composite Materials

Matrix Materials

Types of Reinforcement

Composite Composition

Particulate Reinforcement

Fibre Reinforcement

Nanocomposites

Electrical Properties

Introduction to Electrical Properties

Dielectric Properties

Conduction in Polymers

Polymer Electronics

Answers to Problems

Index

Problems and Further Reading appear at the end of each chapter.

The field of organic electronics promises exciting new technologies based on inexpensive and mechanically flexible electronic devices, and is now seeing the beginning of commercial success. On the sidelines of this increasingly well-established field are several emerging technologies with innovative mechanisms and functions that utilize the mixed ionic/electronic conducting character of conjugated organic materials. Iontronics: Ionic Carriers in Organic Electronic Materials and Devices explores the potential of these materials, which can endow electronic devices with unique functionalities. Fundamental science and applications With contributions from a community of experts, the book focuses on the use of ionic functions to define the principle of operation in polymer devices. It begins by reviewing the scientific understanding and important scientific discoveries in the electrochemistry of conjugated polymers. It examines the known effects of ion incorporation, including the theory and modulation of electrochemistry in polymer films, and it explores the coupling of electronic and ionic transport in polymer films. The authors also describe applications that use this technology, including polymer electrochromic devices, artificial muscles, light-emitting electrochemical cells, and biosensors, and they discuss the fundamental technological hurdles in these areas. The changes in materials properties and device characteristics due to ionic conductivity and electrochemical doping in electrically conductive organic materials, as well as the importance of these processes in a number of different and exciting technologies, point to a large untapped potential in the development of new applications and novel device architecture. This volume captures the state of the science in this burgeoning field.

The novel properties of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites make them useful for a broad range of applications in fields as diverse as space exploration, bioengineering, car manufacturing, and organic solar cell development, just to name a few. Presenting an overview of polymer nanocomposites, how they compare with traditional composites, and their increasing commercial importance, Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites conveys the significance and various uses of this new technology for a wide audience with different needs and levels of understanding. Exploring definitions, architectures, applications, and fundamental principles of various functions of multifunctional polymeric smart materials-from bulk to nano-this book covers the use of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites in: Carbon nanotubes Electroactive and shape memory polymers Magnetic polymers Biomedical and bioinformation applications Fire-resistance treatments Coating technologies for aeronautical applications Ocean engineering A practical analysis of functional polymers, nanoscience, and technology, this book integrates coverage of fundamentals, research and development, and the resulting diversity of uses for multifunctional polymers and their nanocomposites. Quite possibly the first reference of its kind to explore the progress of polymer nanocomposites in terms of their multifunctionality, it covers both theory and experimental results regarding the relationships between the effective properties of polymer composites and those of polymer matrices and reinforcements. This book is a powerful informational resource that illustrates the importance of polymer nanomaterials, examining their applications in various sectors to promote new, novel research and development in those areas. It will be a welcome addition to the libraries of not only engineering researchers, but senior and graduate students in relevant fields.

With growing concern for the environment and the rising price of crude oil, there is increasing demand for non-petroleum-based polymers from renewable resources. Recognizing emerging developments in biopolymer systems research, this book brings together a number of key biopolymer and bioplastic topics in one place. The book highlights the importance and impact of eco-friendly green biopolymers and bioplastics, both environmentally and economically. It provides important insight into the diversity of polymers obtained directly from, or derived from, renewable resources. This volume, Applied Biopolymer Technology and Bioplastics: Sustainable Development by Green Engineering Materials, will be valuable for a broad audience of engineers and scientists, especially those designing with biopolymers and biodegradable plastics, or evaluating the options for switching from traditional plastics to biopolymers. The content of this book will prove useful for students, researchers, and professionals working in the field of green technology.

Basic concepts on biodegradable biopolymer science are presented in this book, as well as techniques, analyses, standards, and essential criteria for the characterization of biodegradable materials obtained from biopolymers. The development and innovation of products and processes considering the environment are highlighted in this book. All of the applications described have been discussed from the point of view of sustainability. Additionally, this book highlights that biodegradability is a great burden when trying to replace, modify, and/or design existing products, and processes that are highly polluting. Finally, the present book concludes with reflections on the development of biopolymers in different areas, and some of their consequences depending on their biodegradability.

With their broad range of properties, polymer blends are widely used in adhesion, colloidal stability, the design of composite and biocompatible materials, and other areas. As the science and technology of polymer blends advances, an increasing number of polymer blend systems and applications continue to be developed. Functional Polymer Blends: Synthesis, Properties, and Performance presents the latest synthesis and characterization methodologies for generating polymer blend systems. This one-stop resource brings together both experimental and theoretical material, much of which has previously only been available in research papers. Featuring contributions by eminent international experts, the book: Reviews polymer blend systems Details miscibility enhancements in polymer blends through multiple hydrogen binding interactions Presents the component dynamics in polymer blend systems Discusses concepts of shape memory polymer blends Considers ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymer toughened polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blends Provides theoretical insights through molecular dynamics simulation studies for binary blend miscibility Reports on the conformation and topology of cyclic linear polymer blends (CLBs) Addresses strain hardening in polymer blends with fibril morphology Explores the modification of polymer blends by irradiation techniques Examines the directed assembly of polymer blends using nanopatterned chemical surfaces Combining background and advanced information on technologies, methods, and applications, this practical reference is a must-have for researchers and industry professionals as well as students in materials science, chemistry, and chemical and surface engineering.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are some of the most important and valuable engineering materials developed in the last 25 years. These fascinating materials demonstrate remarkably versatile properties-including capacity for actuation and stimulus responsiveness-that are enabling technologists to develop applications used to explore everything from the outer reaches of space to the inside of the human body. Polyurethane Shape Memory Polymers details the fundamentals of SMP makeup, as well as their shape-recovery features and their seemingly endless potential for use in applications ranging from the macro- to submicron scales. With an abundance of illustrations and vivid pictures to explain how SMPs and their composites work and how they can be used, this book covers: History and most recent developments in SMPs Thermomechanical properties and behavior of the polymers and their composites Modification of SMPs and novel actuation mechanisms Large-scale surface pattern generation Multi-shape memory effect Fabrication techniques Characterization of composites A must-have reference for anyone working in the materials science and engineering fields, this book outlines the properties-such as light weight, low cost, and ability to handle high strain-that make the easily processed SMPs so useful in fields including aerospace, biomedicine, and textiles. It is intended to help readers understand and apply the knowledge and techniques presented to develop new innovations that will further benefit society.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) decks have been increasingly used for new construction and rehabilitation projects worldwide. The benefits of using FRP bridge decks, such as durability, light weight, high strength, reduced maintenance costs, and rapid installation, outweigh their initial in-place material costs when implemented in highway bridge projects. FRP Deck and Steel Girder Bridge Systems: Analysis and Design compiles the necessary information to facilitate the development of the standards and guidelines needed to promote further adoption of composite sandwich panels in construction. It also, for the first time, proposes a complete set of design guidelines. Providing both experimental investigations and theoretical analyses, this book covers three complementary parts: FRP decks, shear connectors between the deck and steel girders, and the behavior of bridge systems. The text presents stiffness and strength evaluations for FRP deck panels and FRP deck-girder bridge systems. While the FRP deck studies focus on honeycomb FPR sandwich panels over steel girder bridge systems, they can be adapted to other sandwich configurations. Similarly, the shear connection and bridge system studies can be applied to other types of FRP decks. Chapters discuss skin effect, core configuration, facesheet laminates, out-of-plane compression and sheer, mechanical shear connectors, and FRP deck-steel girder bridge systems. Based on the findings described in the text, the authors propose design guidelines and present design examples to illustrate application of the guidelines. In the final chapter, they also provide a systematic analysis and design approach for single-span FRP deck-stringer bridges. This book presents new and improved theories and combines analytical models, numerical analyses, and experimental investigations to devise a practical analysis procedure, resulting in FRP deck design formulations.

While global demand for photovoltaic (PV) modules has increased approximately 45 percent per year over the past decade, PV modules must be durable and inexpensive to compete with traditional energy resources. Often overlooked as a means to improve solar technology, polymer packaging is not only the key to protecting fragile solar cells from environmental factors, but is also the critical path for increasing the power performance of a PV module Solar Module Packaging: Polymeric Requirements and Selection explores current and future opportunities in PV polymeric packaging, emphasizing how it can simultaneously reduce cost, increase weatherability, and improve a PV module's power. The book offers an insider's perspective on the manufacturing processes and needs of the solar industry and reveals opportunities for future material development and processing. A broad survey of the polymeric packaging of solar cells, the text covers various classifications of polymers, their material properties, and optimal processing conditions. Taking a practical approach to material selection, it emphasizes industrial requirements for material development, such as cost reduction, increased material durability, improved module performance, and ease of processing. Addressing cost and profitability, the author examines the economics behind polymeric packaging and how it influences the selection process used by solar companies. Suitable for nonspecialists in polymer science, the book provides a basic understanding of polymeric concepts, fundamental properties, and processing techniques commonly used in solar module packaging. It presents guidelines for using polymers in commercial PV modules as well as the tests required to establish confidence in the selection process.

This monograph presents theoretical and experimental studies of flows of elastic liquids. Falling into this category are particularly the melts and concentrated solutions of such flexible-chain polymers as polyethylene, polyisobutylene and polypropylene, all of which are widely used in polymer processing. These polydisperse polymers vary greatly, from batch to batch, in their mechanical properties and 20% variation in a property is believed to be good enough. l 7 All recent books - devoted to the rheology of polymers do not answer the question of which constitutive equations should be used for solving the fluid mechanic problems of polymer processing in the usual case of an appreciable nonlinear region of deformation where nonlinear effects of shear and extensional elasticity are very important. Viscoelastic constitut ive equations cited commonly (see, e.g. Refs 5 and 6) do not describe simultaneously even the simplest cases of deformations, viz. simple shear and uniaxial extension. Moreover, some of them are internally inconsist ent and sometimes display highly unstable behaviour in simple flows without any fundamental reasons. Even more respected molecular ap free from these defects."

With contributions from leading international experts, this essential book gives comprehensive coverage of all areas of metallocene catalysts and metallocene-based polyolefins including details of the very latest developments.
The manufacture of polyolefins by metallocene catalysts represents a revolution in the polymer industry. The last five years in particular have seen a dramatic increase in the volume of research into metallocenes and the maturing of metallocene technology.
The following areas are covered in this comprehensive book: catalyst structure, comonomer incorporation, polymerization mechanisms and conditions, reactor configurations, special properties, comparison with conventional polyolefins, rheological and processing behavior and fields of application.
This is an invaluable book for plastics engineers, polymer chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and all those working in the plastics manufacturing and processing industries.

Volume C forms one volume of a Handbook about Polymer Nanocomposites. Volume C deals with Polymer nano-composites of cellulose nano-particles. The preparation, architecture, characterisation, properties and application of polymer nanocomposites are discussed within some 27 chapters. Each chapter has been authored by experts in the respective field.

Industrial Polymer Applications provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse properties and applications of thermoset and thermoplastic polymer technologies used routinely in the modification, protection, repair, restoration and bonding of the main classes of industrial engineering materials such as concrete, masonry, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, glass and advanced ceramics. The Author, with extensive industrial experience in the design and development of polymeric adhesives, composites, concrete repair and industrial coatings materials, provides a balanced perspective of the essential chemistries and technologies for each of the relevant polymeric solutions. This book includes explanations as to why polymers are needed and the specific problems and key industrial application challenges that can be overcome for each class of engineering material. The use of supplementary information boxes, suggestions for further reading, and supportive appendices including worked examples delivers an easy to understand guide of relevant industrial applications of polymers. Written in an accessible way, the book provides a supplementary text for undergraduates, postgraduates and industrialists who have studied or are involved in chemistry, polymer chemistry, industrial chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering or corrosion engineering, science and technology.

This important new book provides the fundamental understanding of the peptide and protein drug delivery systems with a special focus on their nanotechnology applications. Addressing an increasing interest in peptide and protein drug delivery systems in both academic and industrial circles worldwide, this book fills the need for a comprehensive review and assessment of conventional and nonconventional routes of administration.

Computational chemistry is a science that allows researchers to study, characterize and predict the structure and stability of chemical systems. In other words: studying energy differences between different states to explain spectroscopic properties and reaction mechanisms at the atomic level. This field is gaining in relevance and strength due to field applications from chemical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, biomedicine, biology, materials science, to name but a few. Structural Analysis using Computational Chemistry arises from the need to present the progress of computational chemistry in various application areas. Technical topics discussed in the book include: * Quantum mechanics and structural molecular study (AM1)* Application of quantum models in molecular analysis* Molecular analysis of insulin through controlled adsorption in hydrogels based on chitosan* Analysis and molecular characterization of organic materials for application in solar cells* Determination of thermodynamic properties of ionic liquids through molecular simulation

may never overcome the effects of hysteresis and stress (see Chapters 6 and 12). The first sentence of the reference work, Handbook of Liquid Crystals, reads: The terms liquid crystals, crystalline liquid, mesophase, and mesomorphous state are used synonymously to describe a state of aggregation that exhibits a molecular order in a size range similar to that of a crystal but acts more or less as a viscous liquid: [2] In other words, molecules within a liquid crystalline phase possess some orientational order and lack positional order; furthermore, the shape of a liquid crystalline sample is determined by the vessel in which it is contained rather than by the orientational order of its aggregated molecules. The authors recognized the limitations and imprecision of this definition but, like others preceding them, could not devise a simple and generally applicable one that is better. Regardless, the terms 'liquid crystal' and 'mesophase' should not be used interchangeably. As mentioned above, all liquid crystals are mesophases, but all mesophases are not liquid crystals. Recent studies, employing elaborate and sophisticated analytical techniques, have permitted finer distinctions between classical crystals and mesophases. At the same time, they have made definitions like that from the Handbook of Liquid Crystals somewhat obsolete for reasons other than terminology. One part of the problem arises from the use of a combination of bulk properties (like flow) and microscopic properties (like molecular ordering) within the same definition.

This books studies syntax of NPIs and their interaction with sentential negatives in Hindi. It outlines the clause structure of Hindi and locates the syntactic position of sentential negatives as well as constituent negatives within the structure. It is argued that sentential negative in Hindi negation marker heads its own maximal projection, NegP, which is immediately dominated by TP. In addition to locating the position of negation markers in the clause structure, it outlines the distribution of negative polarity items (NPIs) in Hindi and the structural constraints on their licensing by sentential negative. The book argues that an NPI in Hindi is licensed overtly in the course of derivation by a c-commanding negative marker. The bulk of the evidence presented in this book argues against previous theoretical accounts that claim that NPI licensing involves covert syntactic operations such as LF movement or reconstruction. With respect to the classification of NPIs, this book also shows the existence of two different types of NPIs in Hindi; namely, strong NPIs and weak NPIs. Strong NPIs require a clause mate c-commanding negative licensor, whereas weak NPIs are quantifiers and are similar to free choice 'any' in English that are interpreted as NPIs in the presence of a c-commanding negative licensor.

First Published in 2006. This volume introduces and provides a semantic analysis of Discourse Adjectives, a natural class of adjectives that the author argues includes apparent, clear, evident, and obvious among its prototypical members. With a main claim that Discourse Adjectives do not provide information about the facts of the world. Rather, they are used by interlocutors to negotiate the status of propositions in a discourse.

Although sintering is an essential process in the manufacture of ceramics and certain metals, as well as several other industrial operations, until now, no single book has treated both the background theory and the practical application of this complex and often delicate procedure. In Sintering Theory and Practice, leading researcher and materials engineer Randall M. German presents a comprehensive treatment of this subject that will be of great use to manufacturers and scientists alike.

This practical guide to sintering considers the fact that while the bonding process improves strength and other engineering properties of the compacted material, inappropriate methods of control may lead to cracking, distortion, and other defects. It provides a working knowledge of sintering, and shows how to avoid problems while accounting for variables such as particle size, maximum temperature, time at that temperature, and other problems that may cause changes in processing.

The book describes the fundamental atomic events that govern the transformation from particles to solid, covers all forms of the sintering process, and provides a summary of many actual production cycles. Building from the ground up, it begins with definitions and progresses to measurement techniques, easing the transition, especially for students, into advanced topics such as single-phase solid-state sintering, microstructure changes, the complications of mixed particles, and pressure-assisted sintering. German draws on some six thousand references to provide a coherent and lucid treatment of the subject, making scientific principles and practical applications accessible to both students and professionals. In the process, he also points out and avoids the pitfalls found in various competing theories, concepts, and mathematical disputes within the field.

A unique opportunity to discover what sintering is all about—both in theory and in practice

What is sintering? We see the end product of this thermal process all around us—in manufactured objects from metals, ceramics, polymers, and many compounds. From a vast professional literature, Sintering Theory and Practice emerges as the only comprehensive, systematic, and self-contained volume on the subject.

Covering all aspects of sintering as a processing topic, including materials, processes, theories, and the overall state of the art, the book

• Offers numerous examples, illustrations, and tables that detail actual processing cycles, and that stress existing knowledge in the field
• Uses the specifics of various consolidation cycles to illustrate the basics
• Leads the reader from the fundamentals to advanced topics, without getting bogged down in various mathematical disputes over treatments and measurements
• Supports the discussion with critically selected references from thousands of sources
• Examines the sintering behavior of a wide variety of engineered materials—metals, alloys, oxide ceramics, composites, carbides, intermetallics, glasses, and polymers
• Guides the reader through the sintering processes for several important industrial materials and demonstrates how to control these processes effectively and improve present techniques
• Provides a helpful reference for specific information on materials, processing problems, and concepts

For practitioners and researchers in ceramics, powder metallurgy, and other areas, and for students and faculty in materials science and engineering, this book provides the know-how and understanding crucial to many industrial operations, offers many ideas for further research, and suggests future applications of this important technology.

This book offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore sintering in both practical and theoretical terms, whether at the lab or in real-world applications, and to acquire a broad, yet thorough, understanding of this important technology.