Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, 4th Edition [Book Review]

This is a classic reference text that has been updated and revised to include some recent developments in polymer science, including topics on nanocomposites, DNA and proteins, and glass transition of nano-thin film plastics. Although the coverage of the new topics does not do them justice, the strength of this book remains in the fundamentals. Some of the topics covered include: the basic structure of common polymers; chain structure; molecular weights; concentrated solutions; the amorphous state; the crystalline state; glass transition; cross-linking; and polymer blends. The text is well written, and there are many illustrations, photographs, graphs and tables. The book is easy to follow and understand and is highly recommended as a basic text on polymer science or as a textbook for undergraduate studies. It could also be used by engineers and scientists working in the filed who need a good book on fundamentals.