Among various branches of polymer physics an important position is occupied by that vast area, which deals with the thermal behav ior and thermal properties of polymers and which is normally called the thermal physics of polymers. Historically it began when the un usual thermo-mechanical behavior of natural rubber under stretch ing, which had been discovered by Gough at the very beginning of the last century, was studied 50 years later experimentally by Joule and theoretically by Lord Kelvin. This made it possible even at that time to distinguish polymers from other subjects of physical investigations. These investigation laid down the basic principles of solving the key problem of polymer physics - rubberlike elasticity - which was solved in the middle of our century by means of the statistical thermodynamics applied to chain molecules. At approx imately the same time it was demonstrated, by using the methods of solid state physics, that the low temperature dependence of heat capacity and thermal expansivity of linear polymers should fol low dependencies different from that characteristic of nonpolymeric solids. Finally, new ideas about the structure and morphology of polymers arised at the end of the 1950s stimulated the development of new thermal methods (differential scanning calorimetry, defor mation calorimetry), which have become very powerful instruments for studying the nature of various states of polymers and the struc tural heterogeneity."

The U. S. -Japan Polymer Symposium-1980 at the Tenth Biennial Symposium was held during the period November 21-26, 1980 at the Palm Springs Spa Hotel in Palm Springs, California. This Symposium was jointly sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the American Chemical Society and the Society of Polymer Science, Japan. It is hoped that this joint symposium between the Japanese and Americans will become a regular event with the next sym- posium to be held in Japan. Although there have been several small joint meetings between the Japanese and American poly- mer scientists sponsored by the governments of the two countries with restricted topics and restricted attendance held in both countries, this symposium represented the first large meeting held in cooperation between the two societies with broad spectrum of topics and unrestricted attendance. In planning the program the Co-Chairmen, William J. Bailey and Teiji Tsuruta, tried to make the program as balanced as possible, both with regards to subject matter and representation from the two countries. They selected 24 invited lecturers, twelve from Japan as follows: Kohei Sanui, Sophia University Takeo Shimidzu, Kyoto University Shohei Inoue, University of Tokyo Itaru Mita, University of Tokyo Yuka Yamashita, Nagoya University Yozo Chatani, Osaka University Itsuo Aishima, Asahi Chemical Industry Co. , Ltd. Toshio Hayashi, Kyoto University Takuhei Nose, Tokyo Institute of Technology Tisato Kajiyama, Kyushu University Shigeo Tazuke, Tokyo Institute of Technology Naohiro Murayama, Kureha Chemical Industry CO. ,Ltd.

QCM-D Studies on Polymer Behavior at Interfaces reviews the applications of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) in polymer research, including the conformational change of grafted polymer chains, the grafting kinetics of polymer chains, the growth mechanism of polyelectrolyte multilayers, and the interactions between polymers and phospholipid membranes. It focuses on how QCM-D can be applied to the study of polymer behavior at various solid-liquid interfaces. Moreover, it clearly reveals the physical significance of the changes in frequency and dissipation associated with the different polymer behaviors at the interfaces.

-Effects of Electric Fields on Block Copolymer Nanostructures By H. G. Schoberth, V. Olszowka, K. Schmidt, and A. Boeker -Nanopattern Evolution in Block Copolymer Films: Experiment, Simulations and Challenges By L. Tsarkova, G.J. Agur Sevink, and G. Krausch -Controlled Wrinkling as a Novel Method for the Fabrication of Patterned Surfaces By A. Schweikart, A. Horn, A. Boeker, and A. Fery -Layered Systems Under Shear Flow By D. Svensek and H. R. Brand -Thermal Diffusion in Polymer Blends: Criticality and Pattern Formation By W. Koehler, A. Krekhov, and W. Zimmermann -Foaming of Microstructured and Nanostructured Polymer Blends By H. Ruckdaschel, P. Gutmann, V. Altstadt, H. Schmalz, and A.H.E. Muller

Catalysis involves just about every field of scientific study. This means that a multidisciplinary approach is needed in catalytic studies. Catalysis involves breaking and forming new bonds and this requires an under standing of either adsorption by bonding to an extended structures or bonding in a coordination sphere. Any understanding of catalytic action must necessarily involve an understanding of this bonding. Even 200 years ago scientists were aware that a properly treated mate rial, such as charcoal, could adsorb an enormous quantity of gas. In 1812, de Sassasure (English translation, Annal Philosphy, 6, 241 (1815 pro posed that the ability of a material to increase the rate of chemical reac tion was due to adsorption of the material in the fine structure of the solid so that the concentrations of the reactants were significantly increased, and this increase in concentration led to an increase in reaction rate. During the 1800s, little advance was made in the understanding of adsorp tion."

At the beginning of the twentieth century, engineers and technologists would have recognized the importance of adhesion in two main aspects: First, in the display of friction between surfaces - at the time a topic of growing importance to engineers; the second in crafts requiring the joining of materials - principally wood-to form engineering structures. While physical scientists would have admitted the adhesive properties of glues, gels, and certain pastes, they regarded them as materials of uncertain formulation, too impure to be amenable to precise experiment. Biological scientists were aware also of adhesive phenomena, but the science was supported by documentation rather than understanding. By the end of the century, adhesion and adhesives were playing a crucial and deliberate role in the formulation of materials, in the design and manufacture of engineering structures without weakening rivets or pins, and in the use of thin sections and intricate shapes. Miniaturization down to the micro- and now to the nano-level of mechanical, electrical, electronic, and optical devices relied heavily on the understanding and the technology of adhesion. For most of the century, physical scientists were aware that the states of matter, whether gas, liquid, or solid, were determined by the competition between thermal energy and int- molecular binding forces. Then the solid state had to be differentiated into crystals, amorphous glasses, metals, etc. , so the importance of the molecular attractions in determining stiffness and strength became clearer.

This and its companion Volume 2 chronicle the proceedings of the First Technical Conference on Polyimides: Synthesis, Char acterization and Applications held under the auspices of the Mid Hudson Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers at Ellenville, New York, November 10-12, 1982. In the last decade or so there has been an accelerated interest in the use of polyimides for a variety of applications in a number of widely differing technologies. The applications of polyimides range from aerospace to microelectronics to medical field, and this is attributed to the fact that polyimides offer certain desirable traits, inter alia, high temperature stability. Polyimides are used as organic insulators, as adhesives, as coat ings, in composites, just to name a few of their uses. Even a casual search of the literature will underscore the importance of this class of materials and the high tempo of R&D activity taking place in the area of polyimides. So it was deemed that a conference on polyimides was both timely and needed. This conference was designed to provide a forum for discussion of various ramifications of polyimides, to bring together scientists and technologists interested in all aspects of polyimides and thus to provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas, and to highlight areas which needed further and intensi fied R&D efforts. If the comments from the attendees are a baro meter of the success of a conference, then this event was highly successful and fulfilled amply its stated objectives.

Pt. A: NMR and other Spectroscopic Methods. Pt. B: Mechanical Methods

This book arose from a symposium titled 'Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides: Preparation, Properties, and Reactivity' organized by Jae Sung Lee, Masatoshi Nagai and myself. The symposium was part of the 1995 Congress of Pacific Rim Chemical Societies, held in Honolulu, Hawaii between December 17-22, 1995. The meeting was the first major conference to exclusively address the theme of metal carbides and nitrides, and brought together many of the major researchers in the field. Over 50 scientists and engineers reported their latest findings in five sessions of presentations and discussions. The book closely follows the topics covered in the conference: Theory of bonding Structure and composition Catalytic properties Physical properties New methods of preparation Spectroscopy and microscopy The book is unique in its coverage. It provides a general introduction to the properties and nature of the materials, but also covers their latest applications in a wide variety of fields. It should thus be of interest to both experts and nonexperts in the fields of material science, solid-state chemistry, physics, ceramics engineering, and catalysis. The first chapter gives an overview, and many of the chapters provide summaries of advanced topics. All contributions were peer-reviewed.

Over the past 40 years, Rotational Isomeric State (RIS) models for hundreds of polymer structures have been developed. The RIS approach is now available in several software packages. The user is often faced with the time-consuming task of finding appropriate RIS parameters from the literature. This book aims at easing this step by providing a comprehensive overview of the models available. It reviews the literature from the first applications of RIS models to the end of 1994, comprises synthetic as well as naturally orccuring macromolecules, and tabulates all the pertinent features of published models. It will help readers, even when not very familiar with the method, to take advantage of this computationally efficient way of assessing the conformational properties of macromolecular systems.

This book reviews recent advances in polymer swelling resulting from the use of novel microporous composite films. It offers a new approach to understanding sorption processes in polymer-liquid systems based on the molecular structures of the sorbed molecules and the repeat unit of the sorbent polymer. It is shown how the adsorption parameters obtained in these studies relate meaningfully with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters. This implies that these adsorption parameters have relevance not only for swelling and drying of polymers, but also for other phenomena in which molecular sorption plays an important role, such as in chromatography and in membrane permeation.

Most of the untreated surfaces of polymers used in industry are not hydrophilic but hydrophobic. It is, therefore, difficult to bond these nonpolar polymer sur faces directly to other substances like adhesives, printing inks, and paints because they generally consist of polar compounds. On the other hand, polymer surfaces generally adsorb proteins when brought into direct contact with a bio logical system, resulting in cell attachment or platelet aggregation. The protein adsorption and attachment of biological components trigger a subsequent series of mostly adverse biological reactions toward the polymeric materials. Therefore, the technologies for surface modification of polymers or regulation of the polymer surface interaction with other substances have been of prime importance in polymer applications from the advent of polymer industries. Some of the technologies have been directed to introduction of new function alities onto polymer surfaces. The new functionalities introduced include improved surface hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, bio compatibility, conductivi ty, anti-fogging, anti-fouling, grazing, surface hardness, surface roughness, adhesion, lubrication, and antistatic property. Theoretically, there is a large dif ference in properties between the surface and the bulk of a material and only the outermost surface is enough to be taken into consideration when the sur face properties are concerned. However, this is not the case for polymer surfaces, as the physical structure of the outermost polymer surface is generally not fixed but continuously changing with time due to the microscopic Brownian motion of polymer segments."