Synthesis Characterization And Theory Of Polymeric Networks And Gels

Polymer science is a technology-driven science. More often than not, technological breakthroughs opened the gates to rapid fundamental and theoretical advances, dramatically broadening the understanding of experimental observations, and expanding the science itself. Some of the breakthroughs involved the creation of new materials. Among these one may enumerate the vulcanization of natural rubber, the derivatization of cellulose, the giant advances right before and during World War II in the preparation and characterization of synthetic elastomers and semi crystalline polymers such as polyesters and polyamides, the subsequent creation of aromatic high-temperature resistant amorphous and semi-crystal line polymers, and the more recent development of liquid-crystalline polymers mostly with n~in-chain mesogenicity. other breakthroughs involve the development of powerful characterization techniques. Among the recent ones, the photon correlation spectroscopy owes its success to the advent of laser technology, small angle neutron scattering evolved from n~clear reactors technology, and modern solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy exists because of advances in superconductivity. The growing need for high modulus, high-temperature resistant polymers is opening at present a new technology, that of more or less rigid networks. The use of such networks is rapidly growing in applications where they are used as such or where they serve as matrices for fibers or other load bearing elements. The rigid networks are largely aromatic. Many of them are prepared from multifunctional wholly or almost-wholly aromatic kernels, while others contain large amount of stiff difunctional residus leading to the presence of many main-chain "liquid-crystalline" segments in the "infinite" network.

Covering a broad range of polymer science topics, Handbook of Polymer Synthesis, Characterization, and Processing provides polymer industry professionals and researchers in polymer science and technology with a single, comprehensive handbook summarizing all aspects involved in the polymer production chain. The handbook focuses on industrially important polymers, analytical techniques, and formulation methods, with chapters covering step-growth, radical, and co-polymerization, crosslinking and grafting, reaction engineering, advanced technology applications, including conjugated, dendritic, and nanomaterial polymers and emulsions, and characterization methods, including spectroscopy, light scattering, and microscopy.

This book addresses a range of synthesis and characterization techniques that are critical for tailoring and broadening the various aspects of polymer gels, as well as the numerous advantages that polymer gel-based materials offer. It presents a comprehensive collection of chapters on the recent advances and developments in the science and fundamentals of both synthetic and natural polymer-based gels. Topics covered include: synthesis and structure of physically/chemically cross-linked polymer-gels/polymeric nanogels; gel formation through non-covalent cross-linking; molecular design and characterization; polysaccharide-based polymer gels: synthesis, characterization, and properties; modified polysaccharide gels: silica-based polymeric gels as platforms for the delivery of pharmaceuticals; gel-based approaches in genomic and proteomic sciences; emulgels in drug delivery; and organogels. The book provides a cutting-edge resource for researchers and scientists working in various fields involving polymers, biomaterials, bio-nanotechnology and functional materials.

This volume explains the theory and experimental investigations in the preparation of heterophase polymer network materials through cure reaction-induced microphase separation (CRIMPS). It describes the synthesis of a new family of block- and graft-copolymers with controlled solubility in epoxies and characterizes CRIMPS processes using novel applications of known methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance and photochemistry. The text develops a new method for characterizing the molecular mass distribution (MMD) of linear and network polymers using thermomechanical analysis data, as well as new methods for determining internal stresses and flaw formation during thermoset curing. The CRIMPS theory will be helpful for researchers and engineers designing and improving toughened plastics and other smart heterophase network materials for different applications. The new method for MMD characterization of polymers in bulk will be very useful to quickly analyze a polymer's MMD and to design new polymers. This book will provide a useful reference for graduates, researchers and working professionals in polymer chemistry and physics and materials science.

Rubber elasticity is an important sub-field of polymer science. This book is in many ways a sequel to the authors' previous, more introductory book, Rubberlike Elasticity: A Molecular Primer (Wiley-Interscience, 1988), and will in some respects replace the now classic book by L.R.G. Treloar, The Physics of Rubber Elasticity (Oxford, 1975). The present book has much in common with its predecessor, in particular its strong emphasis on molecular concepts and theories. Similarly, only equilibrium properties are covered in any detail. Though this book treats much of the same subject matter, it is a more comprehensive, more up-to-date, and somewhat more sophisticated treatment.

This handbook provides a wide overview of the field, fundamental understanding of the synthetic methods and structure/property correlation, as well as studies related to applications in a wide range of subjects. The handbook also provides 1H and 13C NMR spectra, FTIR spectra, DSC and TGA thermograms to aid in research activities. Additional tables on key NMR and FTIR frequencies unique to benzoxazine, heat of polymerization, Tg, and char yield will greatly aid in the choice of proper benzoxazine for a specific application. Provides thorough coverage of the chemistry and applications of benzoxazine resins with an evidence-based approach to enable chemists, engineers and material scientists to evaluate effectiveness Features spectra, which allow researchers to compare results, avoid repetition and save time as well as tables on key NMR frequency, IR frequency, heat of polymerization, of many benzoxazine resins to aid them in selection of materials Written by the foremost experts in the field