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Macromolecules - structure and properties
232 publication there have been numerous papers published on all the topics addressed in this book. K. SADANANDA Material Science and Technology Division Naval Research Laboratory Washington DC 20375 U.S.A.
Macromolecules - Structure and Properties by Hans-Georg Elias; published by Plenum, New York, 2nd edn., 1984; 521 pp.; price, U.S. $65.00 This book, which now extends to two volumes with a total of 39 chapters and 1340 pages, is a much revised and expanded edition of the original book published in German in 1928. By any count, these two volumes represent an immense achievement since virtually all aspects of the science and technology of polymers receive attention, although naturally some topics are covered in greater detail than others. The book is conveniently divided into seven parts consisting of structure, solution properties, solid state properties, syntheses and reactions, materials, technology and an appendix. Its appeal arises from the fact that it is a valuable compendium of information, which is presented at a level which is not superficial and yet not so detailed as to be overwhelming. There is, however, one aspect of the book which is slightly disappointing. In spite of being a modern version of an existing text, some of the topics and conceptual ideas covered are still discussed in a slightly dated and naive manner, which cannot be wholly attributed to the obvious need for conciseness. An experienced practitioner in the field may feel that some of the arguments presented take insufficient cognizance of recent
developments in the respective subjects. Similarly, a relative newcomer to the field may not derive a really balanced picture of the current state of the art. As an example, in the discussion on "shish-kebabs" and their formation, no specific mention is made of the now well-established role of extensional flow in developing highly oriented structures in semicrystalline polymers. This is a very topical subject that has arisen from studies conducted in the early 1970s and forms the basis of the techniques for producing ultrahigh modulus polyolefin fibres. It is also central to current views concerning polymer networks and entanglements, a topic that admittedly is covered elsewhere in the book but which is not as up to date as it could be. Similarly, the discussion on the morphology of block copolymers is confined to a few examples of some rather early work using solvent cast films and omits the very extensive literature concerned with subsequent work concerning structure-property correlations in melt fabricated samples. There are other examples as well. In a book of this undertaking, it is easy to be overcritical of particular aspects of the multitude of subjects that are covered and accordingly the above comments should not be taken to imply that the book is not well worth reading. On the contrary, it is a very good book that could have been made even better by a policy of more radical revision of the original text. Certainly, it is a pleasure to have a copy near at hand and I feel sure that many generations of both undergraduate and postgraduate students will derive enormous benefit from consulting this text. M. J. F O L K E S
Department o f Materials Technology Brunel University Ux bridge Middx. UB8 3PH Gt. Britain
Macromolecules - Structure and Properties by Hans-Georg Elias; published by Plenum, New York, 2nd edn., 1984; 521 pp.; price, U.S. $65.00 This book, which now extends to two volumes with a total of 39 chapters and 1340 pages, is a much revised and expanded edition of the original book published in German in 1928. By any count, these two volumes represent an immense achievement since virtually all aspects of the science and technology of polymers receive attention, although naturally some topics are covered in greater detail than others. The book is conveniently divided into seven parts consisting of structure, solution properties, solid state properties, syntheses and reactions, materials, technology and an appendix. Its appeal arises from the fact that it is a valuable compendium of information, which is presented at a level which is not superficial and yet not so detailed as to be overwhelming. There is, however, one aspect of the book which is slightly disappointing. In spite of being a modern version of an existing text, some of the topics and conceptual ideas covered are still discussed in a slightly dated and naive manner, which cannot be wholly attributed to the obvious need for conciseness. An experienced practitioner in the field may feel that some of the arguments presented take insufficient cognizance of recent
developments in the respective subjects. Similarly, a relative newcomer to the field may not derive a really balanced picture of the current state of the art. As an example, in the discussion on "shish-kebabs" and their formation, no specific mention is made of the now well-established role of extensional flow in developing highly oriented structures in semicrystalline polymers. This is a very topical subject that has arisen from studies conducted in the early 1970s and forms the basis of the techniques for producing ultrahigh modulus polyolefin fibres. It is also central to current views concerning polymer networks and entanglements, a topic that admittedly is covered elsewhere in the book but which is not as up to date as it could be. Similarly, the discussion on the morphology of block copolymers is confined to a few examples of some rather early work using solvent cast films and omits the very extensive literature concerned with subsequent work concerning structure-property correlations in melt fabricated samples. There are other examples as well. In a book of this undertaking, it is easy to be overcritical of particular aspects of the multitude of subjects that are covered and accordingly the above comments should not be taken to imply that the book is not well worth reading. On the contrary, it is a very good book that could have been made even better by a policy of more radical revision of the original text. Certainly, it is a pleasure to have a copy near at hand and I feel sure that many generations of both undergraduate and postgraduate students will derive enormous benefit from consulting this text. M. J. F O L K E S
Department o f Materials Technology Brunel University Ux bridge Middx. UB8 3PH Gt. Britain