Written by seven of the leading figures in the polymer science community, the revised and expanded third edition of this well-known textbook discusses the diverse physical states and associated properties of polymeric materials. It follows the tradition of the earlier editions by including general introductory material and comprehensive literature citations designed to give newcomers to the field an appreciation of the subject and how it fits into the general context of polymer science. There are numerous problem sets and worked examples throughout.

From the Preface: “The first two editions of this book found considerable use either as a supplementary text or as sole textbook in introductory polymer courses, or simply as a book for self-study. It was therefore decided to bring out an expanded third edition...Although the chapters have been arranged in a sequence that may readily be adapted to the classroom, each chapter is self-contained and may be used as an introductory source of material on the topics covered.”

Target Audience: Ideal for a one-semester survey course at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level; also a valuable self-study guide for anyone interested in the physical properties of polymers.

Table of Contents:

Physical States of Polymers:

The Rubber Elastic State

The Glass Transition and the Glassy State

Viscoelasticity and Flow in Polymeric Liquids

The Crystalline State

The Mesomorphic State

Some Characterization Techniques:

The Application of Molecular Spectroscopy to Characterization of Polymers

Small-Angle-Neutron-Scattering Characterization of Polymers

Index