Carraher's Polymer Chemistry

Charles E. Carraher Jr.

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781498737388
• eBook ISBN: 9781498737494
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Materials Science

Carraher's Polymer Chemistry, Tenth Edition integrates the core areas of polymer science. Along with updating of each chapter, newly added content reflects the growing applications in Biochemistry, Biomaterials, and Sustainable Industries. Providing a user-friendly approach to the world of polymeric materials, the book allows students to integrate their chemical knowledge and establish a connection between fundamental and applied chemical information. It contains all of the elements of an introductory text with synthesis, property, application, and characterization. Special sections in each chapter contain definitions, learning objectives, questions, case studies and additional reading.

1

Introduction to Polymers

1.1 History of Polymers

Since most materials are polymeric and most of the recent advances in science and technology involve polymers, some have called this the polymer age. Actually, we have always lived in a polymer age. The ancient Greeks classified all matter as animal, vegetable, and mineral. Minerals were emphasized by the alchemists, but medieval artisans emphasized animal and vegetable matter. All three are largely polymeric and are important to life as we know it. Most chemists, biochemists, and chemical engineers are now involved in some phases of polymer science or technology.

The word polymer is derived from the Greek poly and meros, meaning many and parts, respectively. Some scientists prefer to use the word macromolecule, or large molecule, instead of polymer. Others maintain that naturally occurring polymers, or biopolymers, and synthetic polymers should be studied in different courses. Others name these large molecules as simply “giant molecules.” However, the same principles apply to all polymers. If one discounts the end uses, the differences between all polymers, including plastics, fibers, and elastomers or rubbers, are determined primarily by the intermolecular and intramolecular forces between the molecules and within the individual molecule, respectively, by the functional groups present, and most of all, by their size, allowing an accumulation of these forces.

In addition to being the basis of life itself, protein is used as a source of amino acids and energy. The ancients degraded or depolymerized the protein in meat by aging and cooking, and they denatured egg albumin by heating or adding vinegar to the eggs. Early humans learned how to process, dye, and weave the natural proteinaceous fibers of wool and silk and the carbohydrate fibers from flax and cotton. Early South American civilizations, such as the Aztecs, used natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) for making elastic articles and for waterproofing fabrics.

There has always been an abundance of natural fibers and elastomers but few plastics. Of course, early humans employed a crude plastic art in tanning the protein in animal skins to make leather and in heat-formed tortoise shells. They also used naturally occurring tars as caulking materials and extracted shellac from the excrement of small coccid insects (Coccus lacc...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Polymers
• Chapter 2: Polymer Structure (Morphology)
• Chapter 3: Molecular Weight of Polymers
• Chapter 4: Polycondensation Polymers (Step-Reaction Polymerization)
• Chapter 5: Ionic Chain-Reaction and Complex Coordination Polymerization (Addition Polymerization)
• Chapter 6: Free Chain Polymerization (Addition Polymerization)
• Chapter 7: Copolymerization
• Chapter 8: Composites and Fillers
• Chapter 9: Naturally Occurring Polymers—Plants
• Chapter 10: Naturally Occurring Polymers—Animals
• Chapter 11: Organometallic and Inorganic–Organic Polymers
• Chapter 12: Inorganic Polymers
• Chapter 13: Testing and Spectrometric Characterization of Polymers
• Chapter 14: Rheology and Physical Tests
• Chapter 15: Additives
• Chapter 16: Reactions on Polymers
• Chapter 17: Synthesis of Reactants and Intermediates for Polymers
• Chapter 18: Polymer Technology
• Chapter 19: Selected Topics
• Appendix A: Symbols
• Appendix B: Structures of Common Polymers
• Appendix C: Mathematical Values and Units
• Appendix D: Comments on Health
• Appendix E: ISO 9000 and 14000
• Appendix F: Electronic Education Websites
• Index