Soft Condensed MatterThe physics of soft condensed matter is probably one of the most 'fashionable' areas in the physical sciences today. This book offers a coherent and clear introduction to the properties and behaviour of soft matter. It begins with a treatment of the general underlying principles: the relation of the structure and dynamics of solids and liquids to intermolecular forces, the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transitions, and the principles of self-assembly. Then the specific properties of colloids, polymers, liquid crystals and self-assembling amphiphilic systems are treated within this framework. A concluding chapter illustrates how principles of soft matter physics can be used to understand properties of biological systems. The focus on the essentials and the straightforward approach make the book suitable for students with either a theoretical or an experimental bias. The level is appropriate for final year undergraduates and beginning graduate students in physics, chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering. |
Contents
Phase transitions | 25 |
Colloidal dispersions | 68 |
Molecular order in soft condensed matterliquid crystallinity | 104 |
Molecular order in soft condensed mattercrystallinity | 129 |
Supramolecular selfassembly in soft condensed matter | 136 |
Contents | 145 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
aggregation amphiphile atoms bilayer biological block copolymer Brownian motion calculate cell Chapter coexisting coil components composition concentration condensed matter configurations constant covalently curvature degree of polymerisation density diffusion effect elastic end-to-end distance energy of mixing entropy equilibrium example excluded volume experimental finite fluctuations force free energy change function given glass transition glass transition temperature head-group helix heteropolymers homopolymers hydrogen bonds hydrophobic illustrated in Fig interaction parameter interface interfacial energy lamellar length scales linear long-ranged order macroscopic material mechanical melt membrane micelles microstates mixture modulus molecules monomer neighbouring nematic nucleation order parameter packed phase diagram phase separation phase transition polymer polymer chain polystyrene properties random walk relaxation repulsive result segments self-assembly sequence shown in Fig simple soft matter solid solution spheres spinodal spinodal decomposition stress structure surface theory thermal thermodynamic timescale undercooling vesicles viscoelastic viscosity volume fraction