The Physics of Polymers : Concepts for Understanding their Structures and Behavior

Polymer physics is a key part of macromolecular science. This textbook presents the elements of this important branch of materials science in the style of a series of lecture. The main focus lays on the concepts, rather than on experimental techniques and theoretical methods. Written for graduate students of physics, materials science and chemical engineering, as well as for researchers in academia and industry entering this field, the book introduces and discusses the basic phenomena that lead to the peculiar physical properties of polymeric systems.

After more than ten years since the first printing, the time had come for a revision and expansion of the book's contents. In addition to numerous minor modifications, this third edition includes some major changes: (i) A newly written chapter deals with conjugated polymers. The physical basis of the characteristic electro-optic response is explained, and the spectacular electrical conduction properties of conjugated polymers created by doping are discussed. (ii) Polyelectrolyte solutions with their special properties caused by Coulomb forces are newly treated in different chapters of the book dealing with ordering phenomena, viscous effects and the superswelling of gels. (iii) Since the basic understanding of melt crystallization has greatly changed during the last decade, the corresponding chapter was rewritten. It presents the new findings and interprets the discovered laws.

From the reviews:

"Physicists wanting to learn about the fundamentals of polymers would find the book very interesting and informative." IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

From Amazom.com reviews --

"5 Stars surely this book is excellent", January 11, 2005

"For graduate students in polymer science, especially polymer physics, I always have two books to recommend: Polymer Physics by Rubinstein and Colby, and this book by Strobl."

"5 Stars A comprehensive polymer physics book!", January 2, 2003

"This is a comprehensive polymer physics book, each chapter is well written with adequate depth of coverage. Most definitely the book one must pick to delve into dynamics, thermodynamics, scattering and crystallization, and get to the level of appreciating the complexity and beauty of current research and understanding in the field of polymer physics. Highly recommended"