First published by Butterworth-Heinemann in 1994.

First editor on cover is Ned J. Chou.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface to the reissue of the Materials characterization series -- Preface to series -- Preface to the reissue of Characterization of polymers -- Preface -- Contributors --

1. Polymer structures and synthesis methods -- 1.1. Introduction -- 1.2. Chain structures in natural and synthetic polymers -- The nature of polymeric materials -- The composition of polymeric materials -- Molecular weight and its distribution -- Polymer chain configurations -- Polymer chain conformations -- Polymer solid-state structure, morphology, and transitions -- Polymer surface structure -- 1.3. Polymer synthesis -- Chain reaction polymerization -- Coordination polymerization -- Step reaction polymerization -- 1.4. Summary --

2. Polymer fabrication techniques -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Processing techniques -- Foam processing -- Film-forming processes -- Composites -- Extrusion -- Molding -- Coatings -- Other methods -- 2.3. Applications -- Development of spray-on insulation for the thermal protection system of the external tank in the space shuttle program -- Development of thick, thin, and ultrathin polyimide films -- Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) films -- Polymer composites -- Molding processes -- Fiber drawing and surface modification processes --

3. Chemical composition of polymers -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Chemical composition: questions to ask -- 3.3. Techniques for determination of chemical composition: what to use to ask the questions -- 3.4. Illustrative examples of characterization of chemical composition of polymers -- Stoichiometry -- Functionality -- Phase separation -- Surface modification -- Interfacial chemical composition -- Impurities -- 3.5. Summary: new horizons --

4. Characterization of the morphology of polymer surfaces, interfaces, and thin films by microscopy techniques -- 4.1. Overview of polymer interfaces and thin films -- 4.2. Introduction to microscopy techniques -- 4.3. Optical microscopy -- 4.4. Scanning electron microscopy -- Low-voltage high-resolution scanning electron microscopy -- Environmental scanning electron microscopy -- 4.5. Transmission electron microscopy -- 4.6. Scanning probe microscopy -- 4.7. New microscopies --

5. Structure and morphology of interfaces and thin films by scattering techniques -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Industrial applications -- Adhesion -- Biomedical applications -- Langmuir-Blodgett films and other thin films -- 5.3. Integrated optics method -- Wave-guiding -- Nonlinear optical method -- 5.4. Reflectivity -- 5.5. Grazing incidence x-ray scattering --

6. Surface thermodynamics -- 6.1. Introduction -- 6.2. Theory of wetting, spreading, and adhesion -- 6.3. Experimental methods -- Contact angles -- Adsorption and calorimetry -- Inverse gas chromatography -- Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy --

7. Surface modification of polymers -- 7.1. Introduction -- 7.2. Wet-chemical modification of polymer surfaces -- Surface roughening and seeding in placing operations -- Surface treatment for bondability -- Surface treatment using adhesion promoters -- Surface modification by photochemical methods -- 7.3. Dry modification techniques -- Modification by high- and low-energy ion beams -- Plasma modification of polymer surfaces -- Other dry treatment techniques -- 7.4. Summary --

8. Adhesion -- 8.1. Introduction -- 8.2. Physical meaning of adhesion -- 8.3. Theoretical analysis of adhesion -- 8.4. Experimental measurement of adhesion -- 8.5. Standardization of test procedure -- 8.6. Locus of failure -- 8.7. Key adhesion issues -- 8.8. Illustrative examples -- 8.9. Summary --

9. Chemistry, reactivity, and fracture of polymer interfaces -- 9.1. Introduction -- 9.2. Polyimide structure and properties -- 9.3. Polymer-polymer interfaces -- 9.4. Metal-polymer interfaces -- 9.5. Polymer-metal interfaces -- 9.6. Thermal stress and interfacial fracture --

10. The polymer-polymer interface -- 10.1. Introduction -- 10.2. Techniques for measuring diffusion distances much greater than molecular size -- 10.3. Techniques for measuring concentration profiles on the order of molecular size -- 10.4. Summary --

11. Friction and wear (tribology) -- 11.1. Introduction -- 11.2. Basic concepts -- 11.3. Tribological applications -- 11.4. Mechanisms of friction and wear -- Friction -- Wear -- 11.5. Correlation of properties with friction and wear -- Energy-to-rupture and abrasive wear -- Cohesive energy and abrasive wear -- Ratio of applied stress to failure strength and wear -- Molecular weight and wear -- Crystallinity and wear -- Loss tangent and friction -- Closure -- 11.6. Measurement of friction and wear -- ASTM laboratory tests -- Designing laboratory tests -- 11.7. Reporting and interpretation of measurements -- 11.8. Summary --

References for future study -- Index.

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Although a polymer specialist typically has the background needed to appreciate the subtleties of the polymer which are important for its application, he or she may not have the training to extract all the information available from the analysis of the polymeric material. Often, a polymer analyst has the opposite strengths and weaknesses. As a result, it is important for both the specialist and analyst to understand some aspects of the work of the other. But, whereas there are a number of books on surface and interfacial analysis written for the polymer analyst, there are few books written for the polymer specialist with a focus on surface and interfacial properties rather than the analysis. This series of books by Manning Publication Co., copublished with Butterworth-Heinemann, is intended to rectify this situation for polymers as well as ceramics, metals, semiconductors, and other materials.

Also available in print.

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Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on August 21, 2010).