For many decades vibrational spectroscopy has occupied a prominent position at the heartland of applied and fundamental polymer research. Vibrational spectroscopy has had, and continues to have, a vital impact in areas ranging from fundamental studies of polymer structure through to the control of manufacturing processes. Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy can be applied to almost any sample form, can be interfaced to almost any desired apparatus or process, and can be configured with high lateral and depth resolution, allowing property and compositional gradients to be probed or imaged in heterogeneous systems. All this can be done using equipment that is a fraction of the cost of the alternatives. Thus, vibrational spectroscopy has much to offer applied and fundamental polymer scientists and analysts in industry and academia, and new and exciting applications of vibrational spectroscopy continue to evolve.

This book draws together contributions from leading researchers and practitioners to provide an up-to-date coverage of the wide-ranging applications of IR and Raman spectroscopy in polymer science. A balanced between discussions of spectroscopic theory, instrumentation, polymer science ad application is presented. For example, the beginner will find both an introduction to basic interpretational skills as well as a detailed discussion of sampling techniques. Similarly, the reader will find a rigorous treatment of the calculation of polymer spectra and the theory underlying the measurement of polymer orientation, while other chapters concentrate mainly on the application of these measurements so as to obtain a better understanding of polymer deformation mechanisms, network structure, product properties, and process measurement.

In summary, this book will provide a high-resolution snapshot of the state of the art of polymer research and measurement using vibrational spectroscopy that will prove useful to both new and established practitioners in the field.

Vibrational spectroscopy, according to Everall (ICI Measurement Science Group, UK), Chalmers (VS Consulting, UK), and Griffiths (U. of Idaho, US), continues to have a vital impact in applied and fundamental polymer research in areas ranging from fundamental studies of polymer structure to the control of the manufacturing process. Covering both infrared and Raman spectroscopy, their volume collects 17 papers describing recent research and applications of vibrational spectroscopy in polymer research. They have sought a balance between discussions of spectroscopic theory, instrumentation, polymer science, and applications. Specific topics include measurements of the chemical and physical characteristics of polymers, depth profiling of polymers, measurement of the thermal and solar properties of polymers, polymer optical and dielectric properties, infrared linear dichroism of polymers, trichroic infrared measurements of orientation, dynamic infrared linear dichroism of polymers, analysis of rubber composites, and theory and applications of vibrational spectroscopy of conducting polymers. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"This is an excellent summary of the current state-of-the-art of the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of polymetric systems." (Journal of the American Chemical Society, April 2008)

In this book, measurements using vibrational spectroscopy techniques for both the chemical and physical characteristics of polymers are described, alongside chapters covering spectra-structure correlations and spectra calculation. Special chapters deal with composites and conducting polymers, while others discuss the role of vibrational spectroscopy in understanding polymer weathering and degradation, and determining the optical, dielectric and solar and thermal properties of polymers. Dichroism measurement methods, important in understanding product performance, are covered, as well as practical methods for determining molecular orientation; linear, biaxial and trichroic determinations for polymers, as are dynamic measurement systems.

List of Contributors.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Plastics, Polymers and Rubbers by Vibrational Spectroscopy (John M. Chalmers and Neil J. Everall).

Spectra-Structure Correlations: Polymer Spectra (John M. Chalmers).

Measurements of the Chemical Characteristics of Polymers and Rubbers by Vibrational Spectroscopy (F. James Boerio and S. Wirasate).

Measurement of the Physical Characteristics of Polymers by Vibrational Spectroscopy (Kohji Tashiro).

Depth Profiling of Polymers by Vibrational Spectroscopy (Peter M. Fredericks).

Measurement of the Thermal and Solar Properties of Polymers by Vibrational Spectroscopy (M. Papini-Arconada and F. Papini).

Polymer Optical and Dielectric Properties through Vibrational Spectroscopy (D.M. Smith and A.R. Chughtai).

Infrared Linear Dichroism of Polymers (Thierry Buffeteau and Michel Pézolet).

Basic of Orientation Measurement in Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy (Richard Ikeda, Bruce Chase and Neil J. Everall).

Trichroic Infrared Measurements of Orientation (Jack L. Koenig).

Variable-Temperature Rheo-Optical Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of Polymers (H.W. Siesler, G.G. Hoffmann, O. Kolomiets, F. Pfeifer and M. Zahedi).

Dynamic Infrared Linear Dichroism of Polymers (Peter R. Griffiths and Georgia A. Arbuckle-Keil).

Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polymer Composites (Kenneth C. Cole).

Application of Vibrational Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Rubber Composites (Liliane Bokobza).

Theory of Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polymers (Chiara Castiglioni).

Vibrational Spectroscopy of Conducting Polymers: Theory and Perspective (Giuseppe Zerbi).

Vibrational Spectroscopy of Conducting Polymers: Fundamentals and Applications (Yukio Furukawa).