The science of polymer molecules

This book is an introduction to polymers and focuses on the synthesis, structure and properties of the individual molecules that constitute polymeric materials. The science and technology connected with polymeric materials has grown into an immense subject. Thus there is a daunting task confronting the person who wishing to become acquainted with such materials, attempts to master some areas of special interest. This book approaches polymeric materials from a molecular basis on the belief that there is a common core of knowledge and principles concerning polymer molecules that call be set out in an introductory work. Subjects treated include an introductory overview of synthesis, an introduction of the concept and definition of molecular weight and its distribution, experimental methods for measuring molecular weight, a more detailed view of polymerization including kinetics and mechanism, and the three-dimensional architecture of polymers as determined by conformation and stereochemistry. Since much of how polymers behave depends on the fact that the molecules can be conformationally disordered, the statistical description of this disorder is covered and then built upon in treating rubber elasticity and polymer solutions. The text is geared for an introductory-level graduate course in polymers for students of chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science. In addition to its primary use as a textbook to accompany a formal course of lectures, the book can also be used as a self-study guide to learning the principles covered.