Fluoropolymers are very unique materials. Since the middle of the twentieth century fluoropolymers have been used in applications where a wide temperature range, a high resistance to aggressive media, excellent tribological characteristics, and specific low adhesion are required. Today, researchers turn to fluoropolymers to solve new challenges and to develop materials with previously unattainable properties. Opportunities for Fluoropolymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Processing, Simulation and Recycling covers recent developments in fluoropolymers, including synthesis of new copolymers, strategies for radical polymerization of fluoromonomers (conventional or controlled; RDRP), and the modification of fluoropolymers to achieve desired material characteristics. This volume in the Progress in Fluorine Science series is ideal for researchers and engineers who want to learn about the synthetic strategies, properties, and recycling of these special polymers, as well as industrial manufacturers who are interested in achieving new product characteristics in their respective industries.

The continually growing plastics market consists of more than 250 million tons of product annually, making the recurring problem of polymer melt fracture an acute issue in the extrusion of these materials. Presenting a pictorial library of the different forms of melt fracture and real industrial extrusion melt fracture phenomena, Polymer Melt Fracture provides pragmatic identification and industrial extrusion defect remediation strategies based on detailed experimental and theoretical findings from the last 50 years.

Distinct microscopic photos

Each chapter in this comprehensive volume covers a different aspect of the science and technology relating to polymer melt fracture. The book begins with a collection of optical and scanning electron microscopy pictures. These photos show distorted capillary die extrudates for a number of commercially available polymers. The authors present a brief introduction to the basic science and technology of polymers. They explain what polymers are, how they are made, and how they can be characterized. They also discuss polymer rheology, review the principles of continuum mechanics, and define linear viscoelastic material functions.

Techniques for observing and measuring fracture

Next, the book explains how polymer melt fracture is actually experienced in the polymer processing industry. It explains the various ways polymer melt fracture may appear during polymer melt processing in different extrusion processes. The authors provide comprehensive reviews of the polymer melt fracture literature, with chapters on experimental findings and the techniques used to observe and measure polymer melt fracture, and the influence of polymer architecture and polymer processing conditions on the onset and types of polymer melt fracture. Posing a hypothesis about the phenomenon, the book presents the current understanding of polymer melt fracture.

Mathematical equations

Recognizing the importance of models for simulations that may indicate potential solutions, the book discusses aspects of non-linear constitutive equations and microscopic theory and develops a macroscopic model, explaining the capabilities and limitations of this approach. The book presents an overview of pragmatic tools and methods that have been used to prevent the appearance of polymer melt fracture and explains how to use them to suppress defects.

Polymer latex particles continue to become increasingly important in numerous commercial applications. Advanced synthesis techniques are the key to developing new functionality for nanoparticles. These methods make it possible to tailor the size, chemical composition, or properties of these particles, as well as the molecular weight of the polymer chain as a whole, based on given requirements. Advanced Polymer Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Surface Modifications summarizes important developments in the advanced synthesis and surface modification techniques used to generate and mold polymer particles. This book explores the evolution and enhancement of processes such as emulsion, mini-emulsion, micro-emulsion, dispersion, suspension, inverse emulsion (in organic phase), and polymerization. Understanding these developments will enable the reader to optimize particle system design, giving rise to a greater application spectrum. This book: Focuses on synthesis and characterization of particles with core-shell morphologies Details generation of nonspherical polymer particles using different synthetic routes Explores generation of specific architectures, such as block, star, graft, and gradient copolymer particles The authors describe pH-responsive nanoparticles and smart, thermally responsive particles. They also cover surface tailoring of various organic and inorganic nanoparticles by polymers, as well as theoretical studies on the kinetics of controlled radical polymerization techniques. Condensing and evaluating current knowledge of the development of polymer nanoparticles, this reference will prove a valuable addition to the area of polymer latex technology.

It is generally accepted that a new material is often developed by ?nding a new synthesis method of reaction or a new reaction catalyst. Historically, a typical example may be referred to as a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, which has allowed large-scale production of petroleum-based polyole?ns since the middle of the 20th century. New polymer synthesis, therefore, will hopefully lead to creation of new polymer materials in the 21st century. This special issue contributed by three groups focuses on recent advances in polymer synthesis methods, which handle the cutting-edge aspects of the advanced technology. The ?rst article by Yokozawa and coworkers contains an overview of the - action control in various condensation polymerizations (polycondensations). Advanced technologies enabled the control of stereochemistry (regio-, g- metrical-, and enantio-selections), chemoselectivity, chain topology, and st- chiometry of monomers, giving a high molecular weight polymer. It has been recognized for a long time, however, that polycondensation is a dif?cult p- cess in controlling the reaction pathway, because the reaction is of step-growth and the reactivity of monomers, oligomers, and polymers are almost the same during the reaction and hence, the molecular weight of polymers and its d- tribution (M /M ) are impossible to regulate. The authors' group developed w n a new reaction system (chain-growth condensation polymerization), changing the nature of polycondensation from step-growth to chain-growth; namely the propagating chain-end is active, allowing for control of the product molecular weight as well as the distribution.

Functional, flexible and lightweight products are in high demand for modern technologies ranging from microelectronics to energy storage devices. The majority of polymers are thermal and electrical insulators, which hinder their use in these applications. The conductivity of polymers can be significantly enhanced by the incorporation of conducting inorganic nanoparticles. However, this relies not only on the structure and function of the inorganic particles, but is highly determined by the morphology and dispersion of the nanoparticles, interfacial interactions and fabrication technologies of the composites. This book highlights the synthesis, chemistry and applications of two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanoplatelets in polymer nanocomposites. Chapters cover technical challenges, such as surface functionalisation, compatibilization, interfacial interaction, dispersion, and manufacturing technologies of the polymer nanocomposites. The book also discusses the applications of these polymer nanocomposites in electronics and energy storage. With contributions from global experts, the book provides a much-needed overview of the field, giving advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and other researchers with a convenient introduction to the topic.

BACKGROUND Polysiloxanes have chains constructed of alternately arranged silicon and oxygen atoms with organic groups attached to the silicon atoms. This structure gives them a unique combination of properties that hold great interest for a host of practical applications. Although they have been known and manufactured for many years, their applications continue to expand rapidly and this boosts progress in the generation of new and modified polysiloxanes. Polysiloxanes constitute the oldf'"' known class of silicon-based polymers and the broadest one when viewed in terms of the variety of structures differing in topology and the constitution of organic substituents. There are also many and various types of siloxane copolymers, some of purely siloxane structure and others of siloxane-organic composition. There is no doubt that polysiloxanes are the most technologically important silicon-based polymers. The broad class of model materials known as silicones is based on polysiloxanes. They are also the best known, as most research in the area of silicon polymers has for many years been directed towards the synthesis of new polysiloxanes, to understanding their properties and to extending their applications.

Polymeric Liquids & Networks: Dynamics and Rheology is the second part of a two-volume treatise serving as a status report on a broad area of polymer science research. It represents an effort to unify and consolidate the work of many polymer researchers from all over the world, over the past 60-70 years. Both books are based on the graduate courses taught by the author at Princeton and Northwestern. The increasing need to apply new understandings about liquid structure to rheological behavior squeezed equilibrium aspects out of the rheology course and into another graduate course, which eventually became the basis for Volume 1, Structure and Properties, published in 2004. Volume 2 follows the original plan by building upon Volume 1-covering continuum background along with experimental observations, then molecular theories and applications to such topics as solution properties, long-chain branching and structural heterodispersity. Dynamics and Rheology aims to leave readers with a solid grounding in the principles that underlie the dynamics and rheological behavior of flexible chain polymer liquids and networks. Readers will develop an informed intuitive understanding of the connections between polymeric structure and rheological response. Theory, experiment, and simulation are woven together so as to leave the reader with a balanced grasp of the various areas, including exposure to important unsolved puzzles. The book will be a great resource for a range of academic researchers in chemistry, physics, materials science, and chemical engineering.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned. Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students.

Beads made from Egyptian faience have been excavated from grave deposits (c. 4000-3100 BC), together with beads of glazed steatite (a soft rock) and of se- precious stones such as turquoise, carnelian, quartz, and lapis lazuli. Information on these and many more ancient beads used for ornaments and jewelry, ritual ceremonies, as art artifacts and gifts for amorous women throughout history, and descriptions of the raw materials (e. g. , glass, bone, precious and other stones) and manufacturing technologies used for their production can be located in many references. Many books are devoted to the description of beads that are not of water-soluble polymer origin, techniques for their production, their art, value, and distribution, re?ecting the wealth of information existing in this ?eld of science and art. On the other hand, there are no books fully devoted to the fascinating topic of hydrocolloid (polymeric) beads and their unique applications. A few books c- tain scattered chapters and details on such topics, while emphasizing the possibility of locating fragments of information elsewhere; however, again, there is no book that is solely devoted to hydrocolloid beads and their versatile applications. In the meantime, the use of water-soluble hydrocolloid beads is on the rise in many ?elds, making a book that covers both past and novel applications of such beads, as well as their properties and ways in which to manipulate them, crucial.

Handbook of Curatives and Crosslinkers presents the mechanisms of action of these additives, methods of their use, their effects on properties of transformed products, and their applications. Chapters cover the common use of curatives in many industrial products manufactured in large scale, such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, inks, explosives, propellants and foams, and in emerging products, such as optoelectronics, shape-memory applications, light-emitting diodes, and more. In addition, crosslinkers used in typical industrial processing methods, such as solar cells, vulcanization, adhesives, foams and roofing are covered. Each section presents the effect of the additive, including an evaluation of its chemical and physical properties.

Consumer demand is creating rapid growth in the functional foods market - a market soon to reach $20 billion worldwide. As a result, the food industry has stepped up the development of functional lipids. These lipids impart health benefits when consumed and also impact food product functionalities. While many books have touched on the correlation between dietary lipids and health, there has not been a single-source guide specifically devoted to functional lipids - until now. The Handbook of Functional Lipids is a comprehensive reference that illustrates the science and applications of lipids in foods. The editor has divided the text into four parts for easy reference regarding topics that: explore the isolation, production, and concentration of functional lipids; explain how lipids provide food functionality; determine how lipids are engaged in health and nutritional functionality; and examine the role of biotechnology in functional lipids and discern their market potential. These sections synthesize the collaborative efforts of international experts at the forefront of lipid science and technology. They provide in-depth treatment for each subject in a straightforward and easy to read manner, making the Handbook of Functional Lipids a must-have resource for those interested in this rapidly growing field.

This book reviews the development of antifouling surfaces and materials for both land and marine environments, with an emphasis on marine anti biofouling. It explains the differences and intrinsic relationship between antifouling in land and marine environments, which are based on superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity respectively. It covers various topics including biomimetic antifouling and self-cleaning surfaces, grafted polymer brushes and micro/nanostructure surfaces with antifouling properties, as well as marine anti biofouling. Marine anti biofouling includes both historical biocidal compounds (tributyltin, copper and zinc) and current green, non-toxic antifouling strategies. This book is intended for those readers who are interested in grasping the fundamentals and applications of antifouling. Feng Zhou is a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Simulation Methods for Polymers is the only comprehensive source to delineate the technical steps and efficacy of contemporary polymer simulation methods using a highly instructive, easy-to-grasp format, and it offers a logical sequence of polymer physics background, methods, calculations, and application guidelines. Including coverage of recently developed techniques and algorithms for modeling and simulation, this reference/text also provides an introduction to the statistical mechanics of the various simulation techniques presented and explores coarse-graining, CONNFFESSIT simulation, dissipative particle dynamics, and dynamic density functional theory approaches.

The basic problem of polymer physics is obtaining 'structure-properties' correlations for their future application for practical purposes. However, these cannot be obtained without the development of a quantitative model of the polymer structure.
This problem has been actively investigated during the last 45 years, which resulted in obtaining a great amount of experimental (mostly indirect) proofs of existence of the local order in the polymer amorphous state. Now, the time has come for creating a structural model of polymer basing based on the local order ideas. The cluster model, as presented in this monograph, of the polymer amorphous state structure represents the realization of such attempts.
The development of this cluster model is based on well-known experimental observation: the behavior of glassy polymers in the area of stimulated high-elasticity plateau is described in the framework of rubber elasticity concepts. This gives an opportunity to present the local order (cluster) zone as a multifunctional entanglement of the physical network consisting of several collinear closely packed segments of different macromolecules (the amorphous analogue of crystallite with extended chains) and surrounded by a packless matrix. An independent method for assessing local order zone fraction in the structure has been elaborated. Segment length in the cluster equals the length of the chain statistical segment that gives a correlation between molecular and structural parameters of the polymer.
Application of the cluster model allowed description and obtaining of analytical 'structure-properties' correlations for many processes proceeding in polymers: elasticity, yielding, degradation, transport, some thermodynamic processes, structural relaxation, plasticization, structural stabilization at thermo-oxidative degradation, etc.
The relation between the cluster model and some modern physical concepts, for instance fractal analysis, fluctuation free volume kinetic theory, percolation theory, irreversible colloidal aggregation models, are outlined.
A separate chapter is devoted to the features of formation and control of the relative part of local order zones in non-crystalline domains of semi-crystalline polymers and their connection to the structure of crystallites.

This volume, Bioresponsive Polymers: Design and Application in Drug Delivery, focuses on recent advancements in bioresponsive polymers and their design, characterization, and applications in varied fields, such as drug delivery and gene delivery. It looks at several carriers for drug delivery and biological molecules using different bioresponsive polymers. To address the many difficulties in existing dosage forms, this book provides information on recent developments to overcome drawbacks of conventional forms of the drug delivery. The chapters cover most areas of bioresponsive polymers, starting with a basic introduction to bioresponsive polymers, followed by chapters on design, characterization, and mechanism of bioresponsive polymers; and applications of drug and gene delivery using bioresponsive polymers via oral, topical, nasal, ocular, and parenteral methods. The book also reviews recent advancements in bioresponsive polymers and advanced applications, such as engineering particulate moieties, biomedical applications, hydrogels as emerging therapy, and electrochemical responses, bioresponsive nanoparticles, and bioresponsive hydrogels.

The science of mathematical modelling and numerical simulation is generally accepted as the third mode of scienti?c discovery (with the other two modes being experiment and analysis), making this ?eld an integral component of c- ting edge scienti?c and industrial research in most domains. This is especially so in advanced biomaterials such as polymeric hydrogels responsive to biostimuli for a wide range of potential BioMEMS applications, where multiphysics and mul- phase are common requirements. These environmental stimuli-responsive hydrogels are often known as smart hydrogels. In the published studies on the smart or stimu- responsive hydrogels, the literature search clearly indicates that the vast majority are experimental based. In particular, although there are a few published books on the smart hydrogels, none is involved in the modelling of smart hydrogels. For the few published journal papers that conducted mathematical modelling and numerical simulation, results were far from satisfactory, and showed signi?cant d- crepancies when compared with existing experimental data. This has resulted in ad hoc studies of these hydrogel materials mainly conducted by trial and error. This is a very time-consuming and inef?cient process, and certain aspects of fun- mental knowledge are often missed or overlooked, resulting in off-tangent research directions.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned. Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students

"Presents the latest knowledge on a wide range of topics in polymer science, including the dynamics, preparation, application, and physiochemical properties of polymer solutions and colloids; the adsorption characteristics at polymer surfaces; and the adhesion properties (including acid-base) of polymer surfaces."

Morphology- Property Relationship in Rubber-Based Nanocomposites: Some Recent Developments, by A. K. Bhowmick, M. Bhattacharya, S. Mitra, K. Dinesh Kumar, P. K. Maji, A. Choudhury, J. J. George and G. C. Basak; * Rubber- Clay Nanocomposites: Some Recent Results, by Amit Das, De-Yi Wang, Klaus Werner St ckelhuber, Ren Jurk, Juliane Fritzsche, Manfred Kl ppel and Gert Heinrich; * Surface Modification of Fillers and Curatives by Plasma Polymerization for Enhanced Performance of Single Rubbers and Dissimilar Rubber/Rubber Blends, by J. W. M. Noordermeer, R. N. Datta, W. K. Dierkes, R. Guo, T. Mathew, A. G. Talma, M. Tiwari and W. van Ooij; * Recent Developments on Thermoplastic Elastomers by Dynamic Vulcanization, by R. Rajesh Babu and Kinsuk Naskar; * PTFE-Based Rubber Composites for Tribological Applications, by M. S. Khan and G. Heinrich Content Level Research

Detailing commonly used methods and procedures, this reference discusses the reactions and derivative forms of carbohydrates. Preparative Carbohydrate Chemistry covers the formation, cleavage, and reactions of derivatives and illustrates bond-forming reactions of SN2 types, free radicals, chain extensions, and branching. The contents include: sugar derivatives; selected reactions in carbohydrate chemistry; chemical synthesis of oligosaccharides and O-and N -glycosyl compounds; enzymatic synthesis of sialic acid, KDO, and related deoxyulosonic acids, and of oligosaccharides; synthesis of -glycosyl compounds; carbocycles from carbohydrates; and total synthesis of sugars from non-sugars. This authoritative reference offers relevant chapters on reactions and derivative forms of carbohydrates, including commonly used methods as well as new experimental procedures. It also contains insightful chapter commentaries and succinct topic histories.

If one dismisses the Prophetess Deborah who in her famous song after the victory over the Philistines sang "The mountains melted before the Lord" and her contemporary (on our time scale), the Egyptian Amenemhet, who designed the water clock, which was in fact the prototype of the capillary viscometer, the beginnings of modern rheology should be linked up with the works of the classics of natural sciences of the 19th century: J ames Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, and Ludwig Boltzmann, whose names are associated with the origination of the fundamental concepts of rheology. The founda tions of experimental rheology were also laid in the nineteenth century in the works of J. M. L. Poiseuille, T. Schwedoff, and others. The next step in the advancement of rheology dates back to the twenties of this century when E. C. Bingham, G. W. Scott-Blair, A. Nadai, and M. Reiner developed the fundamentals of the engineering approach to the technological properties of real materials, thereby outlining the numerous potential applications of rheology. The progress of polymer rheology was especially vigorous after World War II when polymeric materials found their way into industry and the home. Today, rheology is 60-70 per cent concerned with investigations of this kind of materials. Polymer rheology has evolved as an independent science over the last 10-15 years and is in its various aspects intimately entwined with molecular physics, continuum mechanics, and the processing of polymeric materials."

This book offers a systematic overview of polymer joining and highlights the experimental and numerical work currently being pursued to devise possible strategies to overcome the technical issues. It also covers the fundamentals of polymers, the corresponding joining processes and related technologies. A chapter on the extrapolation of finite element analysis (FEA) for forecasting the deformation and temperature distribution during polymer joining is also included. Given its breadth of coverage, the book will be of great interest to researchers, engineers and practitioners whose work involves polymers.

This second edition of a well-received volume has been thoroughly updated and expanded to cover the most recent developments. Coverage now includes additional polymers such as polyindole and polyazines, composites of polymers with carbon nanotubes, metals, and metal oxides, as well as bending-beam techniques for characterization. Again, the author provides a systematic survey of the knowledge accumulated in this field in the last thirty years. This includes thermodynamic aspects, the theory of the mechanism of charge transport processes, the chemical and physical properties of these compounds, the techniques of characterization, the chemical and electrochemical methods of synthesis as well as the application of these systems. The book contains a compilation of the polymers prepared so far and covers the relevant literature with almost 2000 references. From reviews of the previous edition 'a comprehensive reference guide for those interested in this field' (Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry)

This book combines theoretical explanations of the reactions of light and polymeric materials with development of light responsive polymeric materials for various practical applications. Photo associated reactions and light responsive materials have great potential to improve existing industrial processes, including capturing solar energy. This book presents a range of reactions and materials with some of the most exciting current and future applications.