Lianwei Li's Ph.D. thesis solves a long-standing problem in polymer physics: how does a hyperbranched chain pass through a cylindrical pore smaller than its size under an elongational flow field? The question was asked by the Nobel Laureate, the late Professor de Gennes in the 70s but has never been seriously addressed through real experiments. This thesis outlines how Lianwei Li developed a novel polymerization strategy using a seesaw-type macromonomer to prepare a set of "defect-free" hyperbranched chagins with different overall molar masses and controllable uniform subchain lengths. The author then unearthed how the critical (minimum) flow rate at which a hyperbranched chain can pass through the pore, is dependent on the overall molar mass and the subchain length. The experimental results give a unified description of polymer chains with different topologies passing through a small cylindrical pore, which enables us to separate chains by their topologies instead of their sizes in ultrafiltration. In addition, this research also reveals how the chain structure of amphiphilic hyperbranched block and graft copolymers affect their solution properties, including the establishments of several classic scaling laws that relate the chain size and the intrinsic viscosity to the overall molar mass and the subchain length, respectively. This work has led to numerous publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

Polymer Solutions: An Introduction to Physical Properties offers a fresh, inclusive approach to teaching the fundamentals of physical polymer science. Students, instructors, and professionals in polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, engineering, materials, and textiles will find Iwao Teraoka’s text at once accessible and highly detailed in its treatment of the properties of polymers in the solution phase. Teraoka’s purpose in writing Polymer Solutions is twofold: to familiarize the advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate student with basic concepts, theories, models, and experimental techniques for polymer solutions; and to provide a reference for researchers working in the area of polymer solutions as well as those in charge of chromatographic characterization of polymers. The author’s incorporation of recent advances in the instrumentation of size-exclusion chromatography, the method by which polymers are analyzed, renders the text particularly topical. Subjects discussed include: Real, ideal, Gaussian, semirigid, and branched polymer chains Polymer solutions and thermodynamics Static light scattering of a polymer solution Dynamic light scattering and diffusion of polymers Dynamics of dilute and semidilute polymer solutions Study questions at the end of each chapter not only provide students with the opportunity to test their understanding, but also introduce topics relevant to polymer solutions not included in the main text. With over 250 geometrical model diagrams, Polymer Solutions is a necessary reference for students and for scientists pursuing a broader understanding of polymers.

Academic and industrial research around polymer-based colloids is huge. Edited by two world-renowned leaders in polymer science and engineering, this is a fundamental text for the field.

Both an introductory course to broadband dielectric spectroscopy and a monograph describing recent dielectric contributions to current topics, this book is the first to cover the topic and has been hotly awaited by the scientific community.

During the last two decades silicon-containing dendritic polymers have become one of the fastest growing areas of development in polymer science. The eruption of interest in these new polymers stems from their unprecedented molecular architecture, unique resulting properties and the realization that they represent ideal building blocks for chemical nanotechnology. This is the first book to solely focus on silicon-containing dendritic polymers. The contributions of those experts who originally introduced each field or played a major role in its progress are reported. The developments in all major areas of this field are presented from their origins to the present. It is anticipated that this text will become an invaluable guide and vanguard of reference for experienced scientists interested in the fields of polymer and material science, synthetic chemistry, and nanotechnology. It will also serve advanced graduate students either as a source of creative inspiration or as a textbook for appropriate courses.

This book gathers the various aspects of the porous polymer field into one volume. It not only presents a fundamental description of the field, but also describes the state of the art for such materials and provides a glimpse into the future. Emphasizing a different aspect of the ongoing research and development in porous polymers, the book is divided into three sections: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications. The first part of each chapter presents the basic scientific and engineering principles underlying the topic, while the second part presents the state of the art results based on those principles. In this fashion, the book connects and integrates topics from seemingly disparate fields, each of which embodies different aspects inherent in the diverse field of porous polymeric materials.

The term ‘miktoarm polymers’ refers to asymmetric branched macromolecules, a relatively new entry to the macromolecular field. Recent advances in their synthesis and intriguing supramolecular chemistry in a desired medium has seen a fast expansion of their applications. The composition of miktoarm polymers can be tailored and even pre-defined to allow a desired combination of functions, meaning polymer chemists can have complete control of the overall architecture of these macromolecules. By carefully selecting the composition, they can create supramolecular structures with intriguing properties, particularly for applications in biology. Miktoarm Star Polymers features chapters from experts actively working in this field, and provides the reader with a unique introduction to the fundamental principles of this exciting macromolecular system. Topics covered include the design, synthesis, characterization, self-assembly and applications of miktoarm polymers. The book is an excellent overview and up to date guide to those working in research in polymer chemistry, materials science, and polymers for medical applications.

The IUPAC system of polymer nomenclature has aided the generation of unambiguous names that re ect the historical development of chemistry. However, the explosion in the circulation of information and the globalization of human activities mean that it is now necessary to have a common language for use in legal situations, patents, export-import regulations, and environmental health and safety information. Rather than recommending a ‘unique name’ for each structure, rules have been developed for assigning ‘preferred IUPAC names’, while continuing to allow alternatives in order to preserve the diversity and adaptability of nomenclature. Compendium of Polymer Terminology and Nomenclature is the only publication to collect the most important work on this subject into a single volume. It serves as a handy compendium for scientists and removes the need for time consuming literature searches. One of a series issued by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), it covers the terminology used in many and varied aspects of polymer science as well as the nomenclature of several di erent types of polymer including regular and irregular single-strand organic polymers, copolymers and regular double-strand (ladder and spiro) organic polymers.

This new book offers practical insights into the latest developments in responsive polymers, i.e., polymers engineered to alter structure and properties in response to environmental inputs. The book features original design, methodological, and application data. Chemists, biochemists, and electronic engineers will find here important new material to understand and characterize molecular and submolecular assemblies that enable the fabrication of switch-driven polymer systems. Beginning from basic research and moving to single-molecular design, the contributors illuminate switching in self-assembled aggregates of polymer chains. These analyses are extended to the switching/changing of macroscopic properties in bulk and thin films. The book demonstrates how the properties of responsive polymers such as morphology, wetting behavior, adhesion, roughness, permeability etc., can be modified to create and improve biomedical devices, chemical sensors, microfluidic devices, drug delivery systems, adhesion systems, and self-regulating colloids. For specialists investigating the potential of molecular and submolecular polymer design, this book is essential.

Natural and synthetic water soluble polymers are used in a wide range of familiar industrial and consumer products, including coatings and inks, papers, adhesives, cosmetics and personal care products. They perform a variety of functions without which these products would be significantly more expensive, less effective or both. Written for research, development and formulation chemists, technologists and engineers at graduate level and beyond in the fine and specialty chemicals, polymers, food and pharmaceutical industries, the Handbook of Industrial Water Soluble Polymers deals specifically with the functional properties of both natural and synthetic water soluble polymers. By taking a function based approach, rather than a “polymer specific” approach the book illustrates how polymer structure leads to effect, and shows how different polymer types can be employed to achieve appropriate product properties.