An introduction to polymers and how they dominate our world
Polymer science is concerned with the structure, synthesis, physical properties, and utility of polymers. Polymers are macromolecular building blocks used to construct natural and man-made materials. Polymers from the Inside Out: An Introduction to Macromolecules provides an all-encompassing introduction to polymers and how they affect the world.

Offering a clear explanation of the unique properties exhibited by polymers, this book explores the detailed microstructures of polymers and their internal responses to stress and the environment. Polymers from the Inside Out appeals to a wide range of disciplines, including polymer, organic, materials, and physical chemistry, as well as textile science and engineering.

Chapters include:

• Physical properties unique to polymeric materials
• Step-growth and chain-growth polymerizations
• Microstructures of polymers
• Conformational characteristics of polymers developed with the rotational isomeric states model
• Solution and bulk properties of polymers
• Biopolymers
• Discussion questions appropriate for first- and second-semester polymer students at the end of every chapter

The various techniques used to analyze the microstructures of polymers are presented in this book. High resolution and solid state techniques are described, and applications to both synthetic and biological polymers are discussed in detail.
Particular emphasis is placed on the determination of polymer microstructure by NMR spectroscopy. Here attention is drawn to the connection between the microstructures and NMR spectra of polymers, and it is demonstrated that the local polymer conformation provides this link. The numerous examples illustrating this connection are a special feature of the book.