Computational aspects of polymer processing

126

If the Institution of Chemical Engineers wishes to reward the authors, I suggest a copy of the paperback edition of Fowler’s Modern English Usage. T. A. KLETZ

Computational

Aspects

of Polymer Processing

edited by J. R. A. Pearson and S. M. Richardson; published by Applied Science, Barking, Essex, 1983;vii + 343 pp.; price, 636.00 The text comprises nine chapters on various aspects of polymer processing written by acknowledged experts. The topics covered range from extrudate swell to blow moulding and from computational techniques in polymer flow to process control. A superficial examination of this text indicated that this might possibly be a very useful addition to the small number of books, of an introductory nature, on the mathematical modelling and subsequent solution of problems in the field of polymer flow. A more detailed reading of certain chapters has,

for me, changed the word possibly into probably. However, I do have a number of criticisms which the editors might consider noting if an updated version of the text is produced. From my point of view, as somewhat of a novice in this field, the main chapter is the introduction by J. R. A. Pearson. I feel confident that a more detailed introduction to fluid mechanics in general and to the deduction of the equations pertinent to polymer flow in particular would “pay dividends” as far as the reading of the chapters which follow is concerned. Indeed, in a number of the chapters including the first there is too much of the “overview” approach as opposed to the “in-depth” approach. Also, for the convenience of the reader, I think that a uniform notation throughout should have been insisted on. These criticisms apart, the text should prove useful to workers in the field and, if used in conjunction with the many references at the end of each chapter, should be a worthwhile “buy” for postgraduate students and other researchers willing to enter this field. J. P. WARD