Fundamental Polymer Science (Graduate Texts in Physics)

Preface
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Polymer Science
	1.1 The Polymer Concept and the Intrinsic Anisotropic Properties of Polymers
	1.2 The Covalent Bond
	1.3 Secondary Bonds
	1.4 Configuration and Conformation
	1.5 Homopolymers and Copolymers
	1.6 Molecular Architecture
	1.7 Common Polymers: A Collection of Repeating Units and a Little About Thermosets
	1.8 Molar Mass
	1.9 Thermal Transitions and Physical Structure
	1.10 Polymeric Materials
	1.11 Naturally Existing Polymers
		1.11.1 Proteins
		1.11.2 Polysaccharides
	1.12 Polymer History
	1.13 Summary
	1.14 Exercises
	References
Chapter 2: Conformations in Polymers
	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 Microscopic View of Conformational States
	2.3 Chains with Preferred Conformation
	2.4 Experimental Determination of the Dimensions of Chain Molecules
	2.5 Characteristic Dimensions of Polymer Random Coils
	2.6 Models for Calculating the Average End-to-End Distance of an Ensemble of Statistical Chains
	2.7 The Equivalent Chain
	2.8 Worm-like Chains
	2.9 Random-Flight Analysis
	2.10 Conformations in Proteins
	2.11 Conformations in Polysaccharides
	2.12 Polyelectrolytes
	2.13 Summary
	2.14 Exercises
	References
Chapter 3: Rubber Elasticity
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Thermoelastic Behaviour and Thermodynamics
	3.3 The Statistical Mechanical Theory of Rubber Elasticity
	3.4 Comparison of Predictions Made by Theory and Experimental Data
	3.5 Swelling of Rubbers in Solvents
	3.6 Deviations from Classical Statistical Theories for Finite-Sized and Entangled Networks
	3.7 Large Deformations When the Gaussian Approximation Is Not Valid
	3.8 A 200-Year Journey Presenting Models for Rubber Elastic Behaviour
	3.9 Naturally Existing Elastomers
	3.10 Summary
	3.11 Exercises
	References
Chapter 4: Polymer Solutions
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Regular Solution Model
	4.3 The Flory-Huggins Theory
	4.4 Concentration Regimes in Polymer Solutions
	4.5 The Solubility Parameter
	4.6 Equation-of-State Theories
	4.7 Polymer Blends
		4.7.1 Assessment of Miscibility of Polymers in Blends
		4.7.2 Miscibility of Polymers in Blends: Phase Diagrams and Molecular Interpretation
	4.8 Aggregation in Protein Solutions: The Egg-White Example
	4.9 Summary
	4.10 Exercises
	References
Chapter 5: The Glassy Amorphous State
	5.1 Introduction to Amorphous Polymers
	5.2 The Glass Transition Temperature
		5.2.1 Effect of Repeating Unit Structure on the Glass Transition Temperature
		5.2.2 The Concept of Free Volume
		5.2.3 Effect of Molecular Architecture on the Glass Transition Temperature
		5.2.4 The Glass Transition Temperature of Blends, Copolymers and with Added Low Molar Mass Compounds (Plasticizers)
		5.2.5 Effect of Pressure on the Glass Transition Temperature
	5.3 Non-equilibrium Features of Glassy Polymers and Physical Aging
		5.3.1 Phenomenology
		5.3.2 Theories for Physical Aging
	5.4 The Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) Equation
	5.5 Equilibrium Theories of the Glass Transition
	5.6 Structure of Glassy Amorphous Polymers
	5.7 Sub-glass Processes in Glassy Polymers
	5.8 Molecular Interpretation of the Transition From Liquid to Glass in Amorphous Polymers
	5.9 Summary
	5.10 Exercises
	References
Chapter 6: The Molten State
	6.1 Introduction
	6.2 Fundamental Concepts in Rheology
	6.3 Measurement of Rheological Properties of Molten Polymers
	6.4 Flexible Chain Polymers
		6.4.1 Molar Mass Dependence and Molecular Interpretation
		6.4.2 The Rouse Model
		6.4.3 The Reptation Model
		6.4.4 Translational Dynamics of Non-linear and Star Polymers
		6.4.5 Rheology of Dendritic Polymers
		6.4.6 Diffusion of Ring Polymers
	6.5 Liquid-Crystalline Polymers
		6.5.1 Historical Background and Basic Concepts
		6.5.2 Chemical Structure of Liquid-Crystalline Polymers
		6.5.3 Physical Structure of Liquid-Crystalline Polymers
		6.5.4 Chemical Structure and Phase Transitions in Liquid-Crystalline
			6.5.4.1 Effect of Mesogenic Group
			6.5.4.2 Effect of Flexible Group and Molar Mass
			6.5.4.3 Effect of Copolymerization
		6.5.5 Rheology of Liquid Crystals
		6.5.6 Polymer Liquid-Crystallinity Theory
	6.6 Rheology of Natural Polymer Systems
	6.7 Summary
	6.8 Exercises
	References
Chapter 7: Morphology of Semicrystalline Polymers
	7.1 Introduction
	7.2 Polymer Crystallography: Unit Cell Structure, Crystalline Defects and Molecular Mobility
	7.3 The Crystal Lamella
		7.3.1 The Crystal Lamella in a Historical Perspective
		7.3.2 Fundamentals of Crystal Lamellae
	7.4 Experimental Methods to Assess Crystalline Structures at Different Levels
		7.4.1 Experimental Methods for the Study of Crystal Lamellae
		7.4.2 Experimental Methods of Assessing Superstructures
		7.4.3 Experimental Methods of Assessing Polymer Crystallinity
	7.5 Structural Hierarchy in Melt-Crystallized Polymers
	7.6 Chain Folds, Entanglements and Constrains in the Amorphous Regions
	7.7 Morphology and Multicomponent Molecular Structures
	7.8 Impact on Crystallinity of Molecular Structure and Thermal History
	7.9 Structure and Property Relationships of Semicrystalline Polymers
	7.10 Summary
	7.11 Exercises
	References
Chapter 8: Crystallization Kinetics
	8.1 Background
	8.2 The Equilibrium Melting Temperature
		8.2.1 Undiluted Systems
		8.2.2 Diluted Systems
	8.3 The General Avrami Equation
		8.3.1 Theory
		8.3.2 Experimental Findings with Regard to the Avrami Equation
	8.4 Growth Theories
		8.4.1 Introduction
		8.4.2 The Lauritzen-Hoffman (LH) Theory
			8.4.2.1 Theory
			8.4.2.2 Regime I Growth
			8.4.2.3 Regime II Growth
			8.4.2.4 Regime III Growth
			8.4.2.5 Experimental Data Concerned with the LH Theory
		8.4.3 Criticism of the LH Theory and Competing Kinetics Theories
		8.4.4 The Sadler-Gilmer Theory
	8.5 Crystallization Via Metastable Phases
	8.6 Crystallization as Revealed by Atomistic Simulation Methods
	8.7 Molecular Fractionation
	8.8 Orientation-Induced Crystallization
	8.9 Summary
	8.10 Exercises
	References
Chapter 9: Chain Orientation
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 Definition of Chain Orientation
		9.2.1 General Background
		9.2.2 The Hermans Orientation Function
	9.3 Methods for Assessment of Uniaxial Chain Orientation
		9.3.1 Introduction
		9.3.2 Birefringence
		9.3.3 Wide-Angle X-Ray Diffraction
		9.3.4 Small-Angle X-Ray Diffraction
		9.3.5 Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy
		9.3.6 Sonic Modulus
		9.3.7 Amorphous and Crystalline Orientation
	9.4 Methods for the Assessment of Biaxial Cain Orientation
	9.5 How Chain Orientation Is Created
	9.6 Properties of Oriented Polymers
	9.7 Biopolymer Fibres
	9.8 Summary
	9.9 Exercises
	References
Chapter 10: Polymer Synthesis
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 Step-Growth Polymerization
		10.2.1 Kinetics and Basic Principles
		10.2.2 Application Cases
	10.3 Radical Polymerization
	10.4 Coordination Polymerization
	10.5 Ionic Polymerization
	10.6 Copolymer Synthesis
	10.7 Special and New Polymerization Methods
	10.8 Summary
	10.9 Exercises
	References
Chapter 11: Solutions to Problems Given in Exercises
	11.1 Chapter 1
	11.2 Chapter 2
	11.3 Chapter 3
	11.4 Chapter 4
	11.5 Chapter 5
	11.6 Chapter 6
	11.7 Chapter 7
	11.8 Chapter 8
	11.9 Chapter 9
	11.10 Chapter 10
Index