Springer Characterization of Solid Polymers: New techniques and developments

The last decade or so has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of detailed structural information available from a range of experimental techniques. Exciting new techniques such as atomic force microscopy have become widely available, while the potential of established methods like X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy has been greatly enhanced by powerful new sources and analytical methods. Progress in computing has also had a widespread impact: in areas such as neutron scattering, large data sets can now be manipulated more readily. The software supplied with commercial instruments generally provides more sophisti cated analytical facilities, while time-resolved X-ray studies rely on rapid data handling capabilities. The polymer scientist is faced with an expanding array of experimental tools for addressing both fundamental science and industrial problems. This work reviews some recent developments in structural techniques, with the aim of presenting the current 'state of the art' in a selection of areas. Review A concise guide to the discipline...a key reference work. Properties and Testing; It is not often that a book sent for review becomes instantly useful. We had been pondering a problem in XPS curve fitting and derivatization when this book arrived on my desk together with its missive from the Book Review Editor about a timely response. Immediately heeding his request I wondered what new could be said about 'Characterization of Solid Polymers' and then noticed David Briggs had provided a Chapter on Surface Characterization. There on P 323 and 236 were the answers we needed as Briggs had produced the best XPS studies of ester functional polymers yet reported. A valuable book indeedRavi Polymer Division News; Overall, the scientific standard is high and the presentation is escellent - Polymer International; This volume is more than just a collection of reviews treating new techniques and developments in the characterization of solid polymers. The book is so well organized and consistent in style that one could easily believe that it was the product of single author instead of a joint effort by a team of experts....every chapter is similarly organized with sections devoted to the theory, instrumentation, and applications of each technique - Polymer News; In all cases, there is a helpful introduction to the metodology and experimentation, followed by some valuable applications....exciting new science in every chapter and a uniformly excellent standard of presentation....this book brings the reader up to date in eight major areas of polymer science where exceptional progress is now being made....It is comprehensive and authoritative, but never too discursive, so that the reader is stimulated and encouraged....It can be strongly recommended as an essentail read and a valuable reference book for those concerned in any way with polymer science and technology - Scanning: The Journal of Scanning Microscopies