Developments in Crystalline Polymers—2

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Biologically Produced (R)-3-Hydroxy- Alkanoate Polymers and Copolymers

   • P. A. Holmes

   Pages 1-65

3. Permanganic Etching and Its Insights Into Crystalline Polymers

   • D. C. Bassett

   Pages 67-113

4. Orientation in Liquid Crystal Polymers

   • G. R. Mitchell, A. H. Windle

   Pages 115-175

5. Application of High-Resolution 13C NMR To Crystalline Polymers

   • Ryozo Kitamaru

   Pages 177-232

6. Gelation

   • M. J. Miles

   Pages 233-295

7. Electro-Optic Applications of Liquid Crystalline Polymers

   • Harry J. Coles

   Pages 297-340

8. Back Matter

   Pages 341-346

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Modern society makes increasing demands for novelty in materials and their properties which are ever more exacting. Crystalline polymers are in the forefront of this demand and improvements are constantly occurring across the entire range from existing materials of high tonnage to novel materials with application in information technology. The developments recorded in this volume reflect this situation. Chapter 1 is a comprehensive review of the polymer PHB, poly(hydroxybutyrate), which is new to industrial manufacturing but is a naturally occurring substance. It has potentially valuable properties but has excited interest especially because it is biodegradable. It may, therefore, provide one means of reducing environmental pollution. Improvements in existing materials, beyond those which are ob­ tainable by optimization of known variables, are most likely to come from understanding of structure-property relationships. Polymer is able to make effective science has now reached the stage where it synthesis of information from complementary techniques, leading to rapidly deepening understanding. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are all con­ cerned with technical developments which are contributing substan­ tially to this synthesis. The possibilities of electron microscopy, specifically the characterization of lamellar microstructure, have been transformed by permanganic etching. Now real organization (which can be very different from what had previously been inferred) can be used as a basis for explaining polymeric properties. In Chapter 3, Mitchell and Windle give a critical account of the assessment of orientation in liquid crystalline polymers, a rapidly developing new field in which they have played a leading part.

• Copolymer
• Resol
• crystal
• liquid
• nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
• polymer
• polymers

• J.J. Thomson Physical Laboratory, University of Reading, UK

  D. C. Bassett

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