Synopses & Reviews
Polymeric materials include plastics, gels, synthetic fibres, and rubbers. They are all-important both in industry and in daily life. Unlike liquid water, ice, or sugar solution, polymers are not homogeneous. They are said to consist of two or more phases, and their production and processing, as well as their properties and uses, depend on an understanding of the transitions that take place between these phases. Over the last two decades, phase diagrams of considerably complexity have begun to appear in the polymer literature. Phase transitions occur abundantly in polymer production and processing, are often encountered in polymer research, or are instrumental in laboratory methods of polymer characterization. This new textbook uses fundamental principles to classify phase separation phenomena in polymer systems, and describes simple molecular models explaining the observed behavior. It supplies insight in the reading and construction of complex phase diagrams, as well as an understanding of the relationships that must exist between different phase transitions. Containing hundreds of diagrams, exercises at chapter ends, and several useful appendices, this text should be useful for anyone teaching or studying a course in polymer science.
Review
"[A] fine achievement"--Polymer International
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [325]-337) and index.
Table of Contents
[N.B. contents incomplete] Preface
Glossary of symbols
PART 1. Principles of Heterogeneous Equilibrium
2. Mixtures
3. Binary systems, Bakhuis-Roozeboom Diagram
4. Binary systems, partial miscibility in the liquid phase, and supercritical phenomena
5. Binary systems, solid solutions, and compounds
6. Ternary and multicomponent systems
PART 2. Simple Modelling
PART 3. Heterogeneous equilibrium in macromolecular systems
9. Partial miscibility of strictly-binary polymer systems
10. Partial miscibility of quasi-binary polymer systems
11. The influence of pressure
12. Solid/liquid equilibrium
13. Quasi-ternary polymer systems
14. Fractionation of polymers
15. Miscellaneous phase transitions
Appendices
Appendix 2 - Simple modelling for small-molecule systems
Appendix 3 - Calculation of cloudpoint, shadow, and coexistence curves
Appendix 4 - Simple modelling of equilibria in polymeric systems
Appendix 5 - Numerical evaluations of interaction parameters
Appendix 6 - Molecular basis of the interaction parameter
Appendix 7 - Answers for exercises