An Introduction To Plastics 2E

Clear and comprehensive, this volume is not only an informative guide for practitioners in the field of plastics, but also an indispensable aid for plastics engineers, polymer scientists, chemists, physicists and materials scientists.
It presents a precise, non-mathematical introduction to plastics, their raw materials, syntheses, properties, and applications, discussing the manufacture and properties of plastics as a function of the molecular and supermolecular properties of polymers. This second edition does not dwell on general chemistry, but provides more in-depth coverage of properties as well as polymer blends, composites and reinforced plastics. It naturally also includes those new developments and trends that have occurred since the last edition.
H.G. Elias, a former professor at MIT, is one of the most renowned specialists in the area of macromolecules, polymers and plastics.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Elias was born in 1928. He studied at the Technical University of Hanover, Germany, and received his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Munich in 1957. After habilitation at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich) in 1961, he was appointed Senior Lecturer and later a professor of organic-chemical technology. In 1971, he became founding president of and professor of Polymer Science at the Michigan Molecular Institute (MMI) in Midland, Michigan. During these years, he also worked as consultant to the polymer industry in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States and expert witness to companies and the court. He was an in-house consultant at the Dow Chemical Co., Midland (MI) (1983/84) and independent consultant between 1985 and 1993. He continues to teach at MMI.

Professor Elias has published more than 200 scientific and technical papers and two patents on the synthesis characterization, structure, properties, and application of synthetic and biological polymers. His ten authored or edited books have been published in English, French, German, and/or Russian, one of these, a 4-volume work, in six invitation in fifteen countries and was a member of editorial boards of five polymer journals.

Prefaces.

List of Symbols.

1. INTRODUCTION.

Basic Terms.

History of Plastics.

Economic Importance.

2. CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF POLYMERS.

Constitution.

Molecular Weights.

Stereoisomerism.

3. POLYMER SYNTHESES.

Introduction. 

Chain Polymerization.

Polycondensation and Polyaddition.

Polymer Reactions.

4. PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF POLYMERS.

Solubility of Polymers.

Dilute Solutions.

Concentrated Solutions and Melts.

Non-crystalline States.

Crystalline Polymers.

Mesophases.

Gels.

Polymer Surfaces.

5. POLYMER ADJUVANTS.

Introduction.

Compounding.

Demixing.

Modifiers.

Colorants.

Stabilizing Agents.

Processing Aids.

6. THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES.

Introduction.

Thermal Transformations.

Molecular Motions.

Transport.

7. FLOW PROPERTIES.

Types of Flow.

Newtonian Viscosities.

Non-Newtonian Shear Viscosities.

Extensional Viscosities.

8. PLASTICS PROCESSING.

Properties and Operations.

Processing of Viscous Materials.

Processing of Viscoelastic Materials.

Solid-State Processing.

Fabricating.

Surface Treatment.

9. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES.

Basic Terms.

Energy Elasticity.

Entropy Elasticity.

Viscoelasticity.

Dynamic Behavior.

Strength.

Surface Mechanics.

10. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES.

Fundamentals.

Dielectric Properties.

Electrical Conductivity.

Photoconductivity.

11. OPTICAL PROPERTIES.

Refraction.

Reflection.

Perviousness.

12. POLYMERS FOR PLASTICS.

Introduction.

Carbon Chain Thermoplastics.

Carbon-Oxygen Chain Thermoplastics.

Carbon-Sulfur Chain Thermoplastics.

Carbon-Nitrogen Chain Thermoplastics.

Thermosets.

Biopolymer-Based Plastics.

13. POLYMER COMPOSITES.

Basic Considerations.

Moduli.

Strengths.

Fracture Elongation.

Thermal Properties.

Rheological Properties.

Macrocomposites.

14. POLYMER BLENDS.

Overview.

Plasticized Polymers.

Polymer Blends.

Thermoplastic Elastomers.

Expanded Plastics.

15. DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING.

16. APPENDIX.

Appendix 1. Physical Quantities and Units.

Appendix 2. Concentrations.

Appendix 3. Ratios of Physical Quantities.

Appendix 4. Polymer and Plastics Abbreviations and Acronyms.

Appendix 5. ISO Codes for Thermoplastic Materials.

17. SUBJECT INDEX.