BOOK REVIEWS

Polymeric Materials and Processing. Plastics,

Elastomers and Composites, J . M. Charrier, C.
Hanser Publishers, Munich, 1990,655 pages, Hard-
cover U.S. $60.00
The concept of the polymeric material is one of
the great ideas of twentieth century chemistry. The
influence of these engineering materials spread rap-
idly in many areas of the natural sciences and tech-
nology.
Polymeric Materials and Processing is an intro-
ductory textbook covering all major topics associated
with the continually growing area of high polymers.
The book contains 7 chapters:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
General Introduction
General Concepts and Topics
Classes of Polymeric Materials ( thermoplas-
tics, thermosettings, elastomers, selected
special polymeric products)
Properties and Standard testings
Processing Techniques (extrusion, film
blowing, calenderic, thermoforming, blow
molding, coating, injection, etc.)
Applications
History, Economics, Information and Edu-
cation
A fine, well-written, easy-to-use textbook rec-
ommended to those who want to acquire knowledge
and understanding of polymeric materials (plastics,
elastomers, composites) and their processing tech-
niques.
D. Feldman
Concordia University
Montrgal, Qubec, Canada
Modern Methods of Polymer Characteriza-
tion Edited by Howard G. Barth and J immy W.
Mays, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 561 pages,
$110.00, 1991.
This volume is a most welcome addition to the
polymer literature. The first three chapters deal in
great depth with gel permeation chromatography.
Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol. 30.1427-1428 (1992)
0 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CCC OsS7-6266/92/01201427-2
Chapter 4 discusses the little used but most intrigu-
ing technique of field-flow fractionation. Chapter 5
covers the theory of various uses of inverse gas
chromatography. Osmotic techniques and intrinsic
viscosity are dealt with in Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter
8 covers the use of the ultracentrifuge, Chapter 9
low-angle laser light scattering, Chapter 10 NMR
spectroscopy of polymers, Chapter 11photocorre-
lation spectroscopy, and Chapter 12 mass spectro-
scopy.
All the discussions are authoritative on an ad-
vanced level. There are a few items I missed. In the
discussion of GPL there is no mention of the be-
havior of polyelectrolytes [ cf., Roches, Domard, and
Rinaudo, Eur. Polym. J., 16, 175 (1980)], and en-
thalpic effects [ cf. Klein and Westerkemp, J. Polym.
Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed., 19,707, (1981 )]. In Chapter
7 the Fuoss-Strauss formula for the concentration
dependence of the polyelectrolyte solution viscosity
has been superseded [cf., Cohen and Preil, Macro-
molecules, 22,2356 ( 1989)]. I n Chapter 9 the state-
ment that knowing the refractive index increment
a single experiment yields Mw and A 2 is misleading.
I found a single misprint. On p. 210, the ordinates
of Fig. 4 should have been labeled rather
than ( a / c ) .
Once again, this is a very valuable book which
should be part of the library of every polymer sci-
entist.
Herbert Morawetz
Polytechnic University
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Emulsion Polymer Technology, Robert D.
Athey, J r., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1991.
304 pp. $110.00
The authors objective is to provide simple expla-
nations for numerous issues of the chemistry and
physics of polymers and colloids operative in emul-
sion polymer manufacture and use. The book is in-
tended for users such as chemists and engineers in-
volved in paint, textile, paper, etc. technology. It is
organized into four major parts: Introduction, The
Monomers, Analysis and Testing, and Additives for
Postpolymerization Compounding. The introduc-
tory section has brief chapters on basic concepts of
polymers (mainly polymerization) and colloids. One
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