Through a balanced combination of theory and experiments, this book provides a detailed overview of the main and most up-to-date advances in the area of polymeric materials. Because the subject is essentially interdisciplinary and brings together scientists and engineers with different educational backgrounds, the book offers a research-oriented exposition of the fundamentals as well. The book is based on the editors' and authors' extensive experience in research, development, and education in the field of materials science, and especially polymer testing, polymer diagnostics, and failure analysis. A comprehensive coverage of the methods of polymer testing is provided along with the results of the authors' work on deformation and fracture behavior of polymers. This book will be useful to faculty as well as advanced-level students in materials science, materials technology, plastic technology, mechanical engineering, process engineering, and chemical engineering.

Through a balanced combination of theory and experiments, this book provides a detailed overview of the main and most up-to-date advances in the area of polymeric materials. Because the subject is essentially interdisciplinary and brings together scientists and engineers with different educational backgrounds, the book offers a research-oriented exposition of the fundamentals as well. The book is based on the editors' and authors' extensive experience in research, development, and education in the field of materials science, and especially polymer testing, polymer diagnostics, and failure analysis. A comprehensive coverage of the methods of polymer testing is provided along with the results of the authors' work on deformation and fracture behavior of polymers. This book will be useful to faculty as well as advanced-level students in materials science, materials technology, plastic technology, mechanical engineering, process engineering, and chemical engineering.

This book considers general aspects of the theory of polymers applied in optics. The main factors affecting the light loss in polymeric wave beam guides (PG) are discussed, and the mechanism of light loss in PG is analysed. Polymers applied in fiber optics are classified with reference to methods of fabrication and purification of the materials. Technological aspects of material fabrication are considered together with kinetic aspects of polymerisation. Updated information on polymerisation kinetics of MMA and styrene, and copolymerisation of these monomers with each other is reported. Other topics discussed in the book are heterogeneity of optic copolymers, association between structure and reactivity of monomers, other properties of optic copolymers, and areas of their commercial application. This volume will be of value and interest to anyone working in the field of optic polymers, both in academia and industry.

Most developed Si-N containing oligomers and polymers are silazaneorganic oligomers and polymers - one of the applicable siliconorganic poly-functional compounds with inorganic-organic main chains. They are using for production of various important technical compositions and materials with specific properties: polymer varnishes and coatings, water-repellents, polymer ceramics and silicon-nitride fibers, etc. They also successfully used in nanotechnology and as modifiers of the other organic and elementorganic oligomers, polymers and materials on their basis. In this book are described practically important and technologically justified four methods for obtaining polyfunctional siliconorganic polymers with organic - inorganic main chains.

During the last decade, researchers working within the field of biologically active compounds were attracted to finding new compounds, materials and methods that could be used toward the protection of human health and environment, along with the preservation of cultural heritage from various microorganisms, viruses and fungi. The actuality of this problem was stressed at the 41st congress of IUPAC devoted to these and related topics. Many actual aspects on creation of new compounds were discussed, materials and methods capable of more effective solving of the aforementioned problems. The topics that are discussed in this book encompass novel bioactive systems for human and environmental protection and preservation of cultural heritage from the microorganisms' and fungi attacks. Also presented are the results of theoretical and experimental investigations conducted by the experienced scientists from different countries, along with the mechanistic comprehension of their performance under various experimental conditions.

This book on polymer tribology explores the gradual replacement of metal components by polymer-based materials (PBM's) that is taking place in automotive, aviation, aerospace, and other industries. The positive results include lower weights of components and entire structures as well as significant energy savings (more miles per gallon). Metals cannot be scratched easily, while polymeric surfaces have, in general, low scratch and wear resistance. Teflon is widely used because of its low friction but the residual scratch depth in Teflon is three times larger than in polyproplene, not even comparing with that in metals. Progress in tribology of PMB's has been hampered by how little we understand it.