Polymer networks: principles of their formation, structure, and properties

Polymer network materials are widespread in their occurrence and find many applications in the exploitation of polymer systems. The characteristic separating a network material from a conventional polymer is a molecular structure which permeates the whole sample. This structure may be the result of covalent linking of molecules, or a physical association of simple molecules, but whichever is present the properties are strongly influenced by the formation of a network. As the network formed is itself influenced strongly by the method and conditions of preparation it follows that in comparison with simple linear polymers, the properties of the final network polymer are much more influenced by preparative variables. Written by an international team of authors, with a strong emphasis on the underlying chemistry, this book forms a timely, concise and accessible evaluation of the fundamentals of network formation, structure and properties, and how these three aspects are interrelated. Chemists, technologists, materials scientists and engineers working in all areas of the polymer industry along with academic researchers in polymer science and technology will find this book an essential source of information in the course of their work.