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Three-Dimensional Television, Video, and Display Technology
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20/01/2003
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BOOKS & MEDIA UPDATE
Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea
Plantastic plastics
Mark A. Ratner and Daniel Ratner
An enjoyable and readable book, Eugene S. Stevens’ Green Plastics answers many questions about bioplastics including what they are, how they could help solve the problem of plastics waste, and their future prospects, says Long Lin.
Prentice Hall PTR (2002), 208 pp., ISBN: 0-13-101400-5 $24.95 / £19.99 / 24.70
This book provides an introduction to the field of nanotechnology for the general reader. It explains key concepts and looks at current developments in an approachable and witty way. Many illustrations and examples are included. Both scientific research and business aspects are covered, and it also explores where nanotechnology is likely to go in the next few years.
Three-Dimensional Television, Video, and Display Technology Bahram Javidi and Fumio Okano (eds.) Springer-Verlag (2002), 455 pp., ISBN: 3-540-43549-2 $89.95 / 89.95
Intended for graduates and specialists in the field, this book discusses the rapidly developing field of threedimensional display technology. Concepts are illustrated by examples, simulations, and experimental data. The book is divided into two parts, Capture, display, and transmission and Signal processing and application.
Organized Monolayers and Assemblies: Structure, Processes, and Function D. Möbius and R. Miller (eds.) Elsevier Science (2002), 390 pp., ISBN: 0-444-51256-X $190 / 190
This book covers the orientation and association of molecules in ultra-thin layers, their interactions with solutes in the aqueous phase, and their potential applications in functional devices and sensors.
Expert Graduate Undergraduate
While appreciating the usefulness of plastics in our lives, most of us also associate plastics with issues such as the depletion of fossil fuels and the accumulation of non-biodegradable solid waste. How wonderful it would be if plastics did biodegrade and could be made from renewable raw materials, such as plants. Is there any plastic that does biodegrade or compost? Surprising as it may seem, the answer is yes. An immediate question that follows is: are there bioplastics that possess engineering properties comparable to synthetic plastics? Then, what are bioplastics? Are bioplastics those that are biodegradable? Are bioplastics those that are synthesized through biochemical reactions? And are bioplastics fundamentally different from synthetic (i.e., non-bio) plastics in their chemical structure and properties? Stevens’ Green Plastics answers all these questions. The first part of Green Plastics begins with a concise introduction to plastics as products and as materials. A description of the raw materials for plastics production, the scale of the problem of plastics waste, and the various methods for processing plastics waste then follows. Stevens also gives a comprehensive introduction to the chemical nature of plastics and plastics degradation. Most nonspecialists see little association between plants and plastics, and the term bioplastics may come as a surprise. However, the use of bioplastics dates back to biblical times. The Book of Exodus describes the use of rushes, pitch, and slime to make materials for building the Ark. Such materials, in modern terminology, could be called fiber-reinforced bioplastics. Other examples of early bioplastics, such as spoons made from keratin, are also mentioned. The second part of Green Plastics covers the history of biopolymers and bioplastics, and factors affecting the growth of bioplastics industry. In particular, the author details the history of several bioplastics/synthetic biopolymers, including Parkesine (mid 1860s), soybean plastics (1920s), poly(lactic acid), poly(amino acids), and triacrylglycerolic polymers.
The future of bioplastics is dependant on several factors. The last chapter in Green Plastics is devoted to the consideration of relevant aspects that may shape future prospects. Plastics waste will become increasingly problematic and Stevens asserts that advances in biotechnology will play a key role in the development of new and improved feedstock for the production of bioplastics with mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic plastics. For enthusiastic experimentalists, Stevens provides detailed descriptions of several simple experiments for the preparation of films and sheets made of bioplastics. Clear instructions are given on the materials and equipment required and the procedure for making castfilms or cast-sheets of bioplastics. One distinct feature of the book is the section of Notes made during the creation of the book. Such Notes, together with the Reading List, provide a comprehensive source of references. This book will appeal to a wide audience. Green Plastics is written in a style that makes it extremely readable, even for nonspecialists. Throughout the entire book, excellent photographs add to an enjoyable reading experience. Eugene S. Stevens Green Plastics: An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics (2001) Princeton University Press, 272 pp., ISBN 0-691-04967-X $29.95 / £19.95 / 31.46
Essentially, Green Plastics gives a concise introduction to plastics and bioplastics. For teachers, it provides abundant material for interesting and intriguing lectures. For research and development scientists and technologists, it could prove to be a useful reference on the chemistry of bioplastics. Finally, for students, Green Plastics is an excellent book, not only as a good introduction to the subject, but also as a good source of information and resources for essays and projects. Overall, Green Plastics is worthy of a high recommendation. Long Lin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Color Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK.
February 2003
51
20/01/2003
11:56
Page 51
BOOKS & MEDIA UPDATE
Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea
Plantastic plastics
Mark A. Ratner and Daniel Ratner
An enjoyable and readable book, Eugene S. Stevens’ Green Plastics answers many questions about bioplastics including what they are, how they could help solve the problem of plastics waste, and their future prospects, says Long Lin.
Prentice Hall PTR (2002), 208 pp., ISBN: 0-13-101400-5 $24.95 / £19.99 / 24.70
This book provides an introduction to the field of nanotechnology for the general reader. It explains key concepts and looks at current developments in an approachable and witty way. Many illustrations and examples are included. Both scientific research and business aspects are covered, and it also explores where nanotechnology is likely to go in the next few years.
Three-Dimensional Television, Video, and Display Technology Bahram Javidi and Fumio Okano (eds.) Springer-Verlag (2002), 455 pp., ISBN: 3-540-43549-2 $89.95 / 89.95
Intended for graduates and specialists in the field, this book discusses the rapidly developing field of threedimensional display technology. Concepts are illustrated by examples, simulations, and experimental data. The book is divided into two parts, Capture, display, and transmission and Signal processing and application.
Organized Monolayers and Assemblies: Structure, Processes, and Function D. Möbius and R. Miller (eds.) Elsevier Science (2002), 390 pp., ISBN: 0-444-51256-X $190 / 190
This book covers the orientation and association of molecules in ultra-thin layers, their interactions with solutes in the aqueous phase, and their potential applications in functional devices and sensors.
Expert Graduate Undergraduate
While appreciating the usefulness of plastics in our lives, most of us also associate plastics with issues such as the depletion of fossil fuels and the accumulation of non-biodegradable solid waste. How wonderful it would be if plastics did biodegrade and could be made from renewable raw materials, such as plants. Is there any plastic that does biodegrade or compost? Surprising as it may seem, the answer is yes. An immediate question that follows is: are there bioplastics that possess engineering properties comparable to synthetic plastics? Then, what are bioplastics? Are bioplastics those that are biodegradable? Are bioplastics those that are synthesized through biochemical reactions? And are bioplastics fundamentally different from synthetic (i.e., non-bio) plastics in their chemical structure and properties? Stevens’ Green Plastics answers all these questions. The first part of Green Plastics begins with a concise introduction to plastics as products and as materials. A description of the raw materials for plastics production, the scale of the problem of plastics waste, and the various methods for processing plastics waste then follows. Stevens also gives a comprehensive introduction to the chemical nature of plastics and plastics degradation. Most nonspecialists see little association between plants and plastics, and the term bioplastics may come as a surprise. However, the use of bioplastics dates back to biblical times. The Book of Exodus describes the use of rushes, pitch, and slime to make materials for building the Ark. Such materials, in modern terminology, could be called fiber-reinforced bioplastics. Other examples of early bioplastics, such as spoons made from keratin, are also mentioned. The second part of Green Plastics covers the history of biopolymers and bioplastics, and factors affecting the growth of bioplastics industry. In particular, the author details the history of several bioplastics/synthetic biopolymers, including Parkesine (mid 1860s), soybean plastics (1920s), poly(lactic acid), poly(amino acids), and triacrylglycerolic polymers.
The future of bioplastics is dependant on several factors. The last chapter in Green Plastics is devoted to the consideration of relevant aspects that may shape future prospects. Plastics waste will become increasingly problematic and Stevens asserts that advances in biotechnology will play a key role in the development of new and improved feedstock for the production of bioplastics with mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic plastics. For enthusiastic experimentalists, Stevens provides detailed descriptions of several simple experiments for the preparation of films and sheets made of bioplastics. Clear instructions are given on the materials and equipment required and the procedure for making castfilms or cast-sheets of bioplastics. One distinct feature of the book is the section of Notes made during the creation of the book. Such Notes, together with the Reading List, provide a comprehensive source of references. This book will appeal to a wide audience. Green Plastics is written in a style that makes it extremely readable, even for nonspecialists. Throughout the entire book, excellent photographs add to an enjoyable reading experience. Eugene S. Stevens Green Plastics: An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics (2001) Princeton University Press, 272 pp., ISBN 0-691-04967-X $29.95 / £19.95 / 31.46
Essentially, Green Plastics gives a concise introduction to plastics and bioplastics. For teachers, it provides abundant material for interesting and intriguing lectures. For research and development scientists and technologists, it could prove to be a useful reference on the chemistry of bioplastics. Finally, for students, Green Plastics is an excellent book, not only as a good introduction to the subject, but also as a good source of information and resources for essays and projects. Overall, Green Plastics is worthy of a high recommendation. Long Lin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Color Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK.
February 2003
51