Advanced Polymer Chemistry

Polymers are a large class of materials consisting of many small molecules that can be linked together to form long chains, thus they are known as macromolecules. A typical polymer may include tens of thousands of monomers. Because of their large size, polymers are classified as macromolecules. Humans have taken advantage of the versitility of polymers for centuries in the form of oils, tars, resins, and gums. However, it was not until the industrial revolution that the modern polymer industry began to develop. Unmatched in the diversity of their properties, polymers such as cotton, wool, rubber, Teflon(tm), and all plastics are used in nearly every industry. Natural and synthetic polymers can be produced with a wide range of stiffness, strength, heat resistance, density, and even price. With continued research into the science and applications of polymers, they are playing an ever increasing role in society. This book explains the basic principles of polymer chemistry, from significant methods of molecular weight determination to the simpler mechanisms of polymerization.