Highlighting solutions to more recently identified problems, this work focuses on the chemistry and technology involved in the functionalization of monomers, and the preparation and processing of polymers to serve specific material needs. It reflects the advances that have occurred in the field since the publication of the first edition.

The progressive dwindling of fossil resources, coupled with the drastic increase in oil prices, have sparked a feverish activity in search of alternatives based on renewable resources for the production of energy. Given the predominance of petroleum- and carbon-based chemistry for the manufacture of organic chemical commodities, a similar preoccupation has recently generated numerous initiatives aimed at replacing these fossil sources with renewable counterparts. In particular, major efforts are being conducted in the field of polymer science and technology to prepare macromolecular materials based on renewable resources. The concept of the bio-refinery, viz. the rational exploitation of the vegetable biomass in terms of the separation of its components and their utilisation as such, or after suitable chemical modifications, is thus gaining momentum and considerable financial backing from both the public and private sectors. This collection of chapters, each one written by internationally recognised experts in the corresponding field, covers in a comprehensive fashion all the major aspects related to the synthesis, characterization and properties of macromolecular materials prepared using renewable resources as such, or after appropriate modifications. Thus, monomers such as terpenes and furans, oligomers like rosin and tannins, and polymers ranging from cellulose to proteins and including macromolecules synthesized by microbes, are discussed with the purpose of showing the extraordinary variety of materials that can be prepared from their intelligent exploitation. Particular emphasis has been placed on recent advances and imminent perspectives, given the incessantly growing interest that this area is experiencing in both the scientific and technological realms. - Discusses bio-refining with explicit application to materials - Replete with examples of applications of the concept of sustainable development - Presents an impressive variety of novel macromolecular materials

This new book covers the synthetic as well application aspects of functional polymers. It highlights modern trends in the field and showcases the recent characterization techniques that are being employed in the field of polymer science. The chapters are written by top-notch scientists who are internationally recognized in the field. The chapters will highlight the modern trend in the field.

Interest in preparing new polymers peaked about 1966. Since that time, industrial and government support for the synthesis and study of new polymers has steadily declined. Gone are the good days when government funds supported a great push to attain ulti mate thermal stability for organic polymeric materials. Gone are the good days when many chemical companies, encouraged by the obvious potential for rewards, had great interest and provided support for preparing new polymers. We now often hear managers say "we have enough polymers" or "all we need to do is find additional and better ways to use existing polymers. " The latter often in cludes the statement, "we can get the new materials that are wanted from polymer alloys or blends. " Interest in preparing new monomers has also waned, even though it is well recognized that monomers with special functionality are greatly needed to fine-tune existing polymers for specific tasks. Shrinkage of interest in new monomer and polymer research has not come about solely as a result of the obvious maturity of the polymers industry. Since uses for polymers continue to grow and there is still room for good concepts to study, lack of market growth and fields of study have probably not significantly contribu ted to that shrinkage.

In modern polymer science a variety of polymerization methods for the direct synthesis of polymers bearing functional groups are known. However, there is still a large number of functional groups that may either completely prevent polymerization or lead to side reactions. Post-polymerization modification, also known as polymer-analogous modification, is an alternative approach to overcome these limitations. It is based on the polymerization of monomers with functional groups that are inert towards the polymerization conditions but allow a quantitative conversion in a subsequent reaction step yielding a broad range of other functional groups. Thus, diverse libraries of functional polymers with identical average degrees of polymerization but variable side chain functionality may easily be generated. Filling the gap for a book dealing with synthetic strategies and recent developments, this volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the field of post-polymerization modification. As such, the international team of expert authors covers a wide range of topics, including new synthetic techniques utilizing different reactive groups for post-polymerization modifications with examples ranging from modification of biomimetic and biological polymers to modification of surfaces. With its guidelines this is an indispensable and interdisciplinary reference for scientists working in both academic and industrial polymer research.

Computational Quantum Chemistry: Insights into Polymerization Reactions consolidates extensive research results, couples them with computational quantum chemistry (CQC) methods applicable to polymerization reactions, and presents those results systematically. CQC has advanced polymer reaction engineering considerably for the past two decades. The book puts these advances into perspective. It also allows you to access the most up-to-date research and CQC methods applicable to polymerization reactions in a single volume. The content is rigorous yet accessible to graduate students as well as researchers who need a reference of state-of-the-art CQC methods with polymerization applications. - Consolidates more than 10 years of theoretical polymerization reaction research currently scattered across journal articles - Accessibly presents CQC methods applicable to polymerization reactions - Provides researchers with a one-stop source of the latest theoretical developments in polymer reaction engineering

"Template polymerization is a new field in polymer synthesis but common practice in the biosynthesis since DNA is the most popular template or matrix on which proteins are built by living species. This field is relevant to the synthesis of polymers of controlled structure but its application goes beyond the synthesis. Materials are formulated in complex mixtures always containing components which can be regarded as templates on which other materials are formed, modified, or are interacted with. In the new product development the relevance of these phenomena is controlled by the order of addition which affects probabilities and preferences of interaction. The current publication outlines mechanisms of template polymerization, polycondensation, and copolymerization. These mechanisms, illustrated with numerous examples, indicate a range of possibilities which can be encountered in materials and utilized to modify their properties. Orientation of substrates on template and their effect on modification of their reactivity and properties such as, for example, absorption of light or water are also discussed. Several chapters contain information on these studies discussed with sufficient detail to give reader comprehensive understanding of the methods used in various research laboratories and their findings."--Publisher's description.