This companion volume to "Fundamental Polymer Science" (Gedde and Hedenqvist, 2019) offers detailed insights from leading practitioners into experimental methods, simulation and modelling, mechanical and transport properties, processing, and sustainability issues. Separate chapters are devoted to thermal analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, scattering methods, and chromatography. Special problems and pitfalls related to the study of polymers are addressed. Careful editing for consistency and cross-referencing among the chapters, high-quality graphics, worked-out examples, and numerous references to the specialist literature make "Applied Polymer Science" an essential reference for advanced students and practicing chemists, physicists, and engineers who want to solve problems with the use of polymeric materials.

Emerging Mass Spectrometric Tools for Analysis of Polymers and Polymer Additives, by Nina Aminlashgari and Minna Hakkarainen. Analysis of Polymer Additives and Impurities by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry, by Wolfgang Buchberger and Martin Stiftinger. Direct Insertion Probe Mass Spectrometry of Polymers, by Jale Hacaloglu Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Oligo- and Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives, by Petra Mischnick. Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for Molecular Level Understanding of Polymer Degradation, by Minna Hakkarainen.

Emerging Mass Spectrometric Tools for Analysis of Polymers and Polymer Additives, by Nina Aminlashgari and Minna Hakkarainen. Analysis of Polymer Additives and Impurities by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry, by Wolfgang Buchberger and Martin Stiftinger. Direct Insertion Probe Mass Spectrometry of Polymers, by Jale Hacaloglu Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Oligo- and Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives, by Petra Mischnick. Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for Molecular Level Understanding of Polymer Degradation, by Minna Hakkarainen.

Polymericmaterials, both"inert"anddegradable, constantlyinteractwiththe surroundings. Because of this interaction changes take place in the polymer matrix and small molecules are released to the environment. Reliable me- ods for testing biodegradability and environmental interaction of renewable resources and biodegradable polymers are required to answer the rema- ing questions concerning the environmental impact of these future materials. Inthecaseofdegradablepolymersmultiplefactorsaffectthedegradation process and small changes in the chemical structure or product formulation may change the susceptibility to degradation or cause different degradation product patterns, rendering the product less environmentally adaptable. - velopment of sustainable polymeric materials also demands the development of more migration-resistant polymer additives. Chromatographic techniques especially gaschromatographyandliquidchromatographypreferentially c- pled to mass spectrometric detection are ideal tools for studying these low molecular weight compounds and polymer-environment interactions. In the ?rst chapter of this volume chromatographic ?ngerprinting and - dicator product concepts are presented as tools for evaluating polymeric - terials. These concepts have great potential in evaluation of degradation state andlife-time/service-life ofpolymericmaterials, evaluation ofanti-oxidant or pro-oxidant systems, degradation mechanism and processing parameters as wellasrapidcomparisonandqualitycontrolofmaterials.Thesolid-phase- croextractiontechniquehasrapidlyfoundapplicationsinnumerous?elds.The second chapter reviews the extraction of polymer degradation products and additives, monomer-rests, odour compounds, migrants from packaging and medicalproductsaswellasextractionofpolymeradditivesfromenvironm- talsamplesandbiological?uidsbysolid-phasemicroextractiondemonstrating the high versatility and potential of this technique also in polymer analysis.

This companion volume to "Fundamental Polymer Science" (Gedde and Hedenqvist, 2019) offers detailed insights from leading practitioners into experimental methods, simulation and modelling, mechanical and transport properties, processing, and sustainability issues. Separate chapters are devoted to thermal analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, scattering methods, and chromatography. Special problems and pitfalls related to the study of polymers are addressed. Careful editing for consistency and cross-referencing among the chapters, high-quality graphics, worked-out examples, and numerous references to the specialist literature make "Applied Polymer Science" an essential reference for advanced students and practicing chemists, physicists, and engineers who want to solve problems with the use of polymeric materials.