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A Little Book about BIG Chemistry

The Story of Man-Made Polymers

  • Book
  • © 2017

Overview

Authors:
  1. Jim Massy

    1. Norwich, United Kingdom

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  • Explains the essentials of polymer chemistry
  • Describes how macromolecules were discovered
  • Provides basic knowledge in polymerization techniques
  • Presents an overview of most common polymers in a chronological list

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Materials (BRIEFSMATERIALS)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Big Molecules

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 1-3

  3. Rubber in the 19th Century

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 5-8

  4. Cellulose and Casein in the 19th Century

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 9-14

  5. Macromolecules in the 20th Century

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 15-17

  6. Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Polymers

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 19-26

  7. The Burgeoning of Modern Plastics

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 27-27

  8. Physical Properties of Polymers

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 29-32

  9. Chemical Properties of Polymers

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 33-38

  10. Initiation of Polymerization

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 39-41

  11. Copolymers

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 43-44

  12. Ethical Issues

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 45-48

  13. The Chronology of Polymers

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 49-66

  14. Summary and Conclusions

    • Jim Massy
    Pages 67-67

  15. Back Matter

    Pages 69-82
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Keywords

About this book

The brief explains in simple terms the essentials of polymer chemistry and how polymers came to be discovered by pioneers in this field. It relates the many uses of polymers, including those not widely recognised by the lay person. The chemistry of polymerisation and the influence of chemical structure and additives on properties are described. Ethical issues are considered, especially in the context of huge tonnages of plastics. Finally short paragraphs on more than 30 common polymers are listed chronologically with chemical structures, properties and applications. It will appeal to those with connections to or within the plastics, rubber and textile industries, science students, members of other science disciplines using polymers, as well as people just curious to know about everyday plastics.

Reviews

“This book represents an essential source of information, with many examples of the most widely used and important type of materials today, the polymers, for the reader to appreciate and understand their essential role in everyday life. Thus, the book is a very useful tool for students and scientists from different disciplines, as well as for lay readers interested in the interdisciplinary field of materials science.” (Bogdan Marian Tofanica, Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 53 (1-2), 2019)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Norwich, United Kingdom

    Jim Massy

About the author

Derek James Rowland (aka Jim) Massy worked mainly in industrial polymer research, with an emphasis on surface coatings and textile chemicals. Following an uninvited early retirement, he studied further at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and gained a PhD in 1986. Thereafter he spent his time doing organic synthesis of varied types in pharmaceutical research and at the UEA until a more normal retirement age beckoned.

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