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Polymer science has matured into a fully accepted branch of
materials science. This means that it can be described as a 'chain
of knowledge' (Manfred Gordon), the beads of the chain representing
all the topics that have to be studied in depth if the relationship
between the structure of the molecules synthesized and the end-use
properties of the material they constitute is to be understood. The
term chain indicates the connectivity of the beads, i.e. the
multidisciplinary approach required to achieve the aim, knowledge,
here defined as quantitative understanding of the relationship
mentioned above in all its parts. Quite a few conferences are being
held at which the disciplinar beads themselves are discussed in
detail, and new results within their framework are presented. In
this respect, the TUPAC Microsymposia in Prague have made
themselves indispensable, to mention one successful example. The bi
annual TUPAC Symposia on Macromolecules, on the other hand, supply
interdisciplinary meeting places, which have the advantage and the
disadvantage of a large attendance. Smaller-size conferences of a
similar nature can often be found on a national level. The
organizers of the young, but already well-appreciated, Rolduc
Meetings on the interplay between fundamental science and
technology in the polymer field struck an interesting chord' when
they realized that focussing on the basic science behind
technological problems would serve the purpose of concentration on
insight along the chain of knowledge and avoid the surrender to too
large a size for the meeting to really be a meeting."
The Rolduc Polymer Meetings, of which the contents of this volume
represent the third, are already on their way to occupying a unique
place in the crowded calendar of symposia on every aspect of
polymer science and engineering. They combine manageable meeting
size with a theme, 'Integration of Fundamental Polymer Science and
Technology', which is often discussed but seldom realized in
practice. The technological, or applied, areas of polymers have
perhaps received more emphasis historically than those of other
allied disciplines. Indeed, various plastic and rubber materials
were successful items of commerce long before the macromolecular
concept itself was firmly established. The more fundamental aspects
of the field were also largely developed in industrial
laboratories. The early work of Mark and Meyer at IG Farben, and
that of Carrothers and Flory at Du Pont, are good examples of this.
The present situation, in which polymers are being applied to more
and more demanding end uses, from high performance materials on the
one hand to the biomedical and electronics fields on the other,
caIls for an ever greater understanding of the basic scientific
principles governing their behavior. It is evident, therefore, that
interactions between those engaged in the 'pure' and 'applied'
parts of the field must be promoted effectively. The Rolduc Polymer
Meetings contribute significantly to such interactions, not only by
interweaving technological and scientific presentations, but also
by providing a forum for the participants to discuss problems of
mutual interest in all their complexity.
The aim of the Rolduc Polymer Meetings is to stimulate
interdisciplinary discussions between academic and industrial
polymer scientists and engineers. Experts are invited to review
selected topics and to initiate discussions relating to future
trends and developments. The general theme of these meetings is
'Integration of Fundamental Polymer Science and Technology'. In
order to serve this goal, all participants are accommodated in
Rolduc Abbey, a well-preserved medieval monument in Limburg (The
Netherlands) to provide an optimum atmosphere for the exchange of
ideas. About 350 participants took part in the 4th Rolduc Polymer
Meeting, which was held from 23 to 27 April 1989. This volume
contains invited and selected contributed papers on topics such as
solution properties, chemistry, emulsion polymerization, liquid
crystalline polymers, structure/ morphology and blends/composites.
We are fully aware of the fact that the reader will not find an
integrated presentation of lectures in this volume. Unfortunately,
it is impossible to put down in writing the atmosphere of this and
previous meetings. However, we hope that the reader will be
stimulated to present his own views in forthcoming meetings after
reading these proceedings. We wish to thank all contributors to
this volume. P.l.L.
'Integration of Fundamental Polymer Science and Technology' is a
theme that admits of countless variations. It is admirably
exemplified by the scientific work of R. Koningsveld and C. G.
Vonk, in whose honour this meeting was organized. The interplay
between 'pure' and 'applied' is of course not confined to any
particular subdiscipline of chemistry or physics (witness the name
IUPAC and IUPAP) but is perhaps rarely so intimate and inevitable
as in the macromolecular area. The historical sequence may vary:
when the first synthetic dye was prepared by Perkin, considerable
knowledge of the molecular structure was also at hand; but
polymeric materials, both natural and synthetic, had achieved a
fair practical technology long before their macromolecular
character was appreciated or established. Such historical records
have sometimes led to differences of opinion as to whether the pure
or the applied arm should deserve the first place of honour. The
Harvard physiologist Henderson, as quoted in Walter Moore's
Physical Chemistry, averred that 'Science owes more to the steam
engine than the steam engine owes to Science'. On the other hand,
few would dispute the proposition that nuclear power production
could scarcely have preceded the laboratory observations of Hahn
and Strassmann on uranium fission. Whatever history may suggest, an
effective and continuous working relationship must recognize the
essential contributions, if not always the completely smooth
meshing, of both extremes.
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