Table of Contents

Introduction to Chain Molecules
Introduction
How Big is Big?
Linear and Branched Polymers, Homopolymers, and Copolymers  
Addition, Condensation, and Natural Polymers     
Polymer Nomenclature
Structural Isomerism
Molecular Weights and Molecular Weight Averages    
Measurement of Molecular Weight      
Preview of Things to Come

Step-Growth Polymerization
Introduction
Condensation Polymers: One Step at a Time
Kinetics of Step-Growth Polymerization
Distribution of Molecular Sizes
Polyesters
Polyamides
Stoichiometric Imbalance

Chain-Growth polymerization
Introduction
Chain-Growth and Step-Growth Polymerizations: Some Comparisons
Initiation
Termination
Propagation
Radical Lifetime
Distribution of Molecular Weights
Chain Transfer

Controlled Polymerization
Introduction
Poisson Distribution for an Ideal Living Polymerization
Anionic Polymerization
Block Copolymers, End-Functional Polymers, and Branched Polymers by Anionic Polymerization
Cationic Polymerization
Controlled Radical Polymerization
Polymerization Equilibrium
Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP)
Dendrimers

Copolymers, Microstructure, and Stereoregularity
Introduction
Copolymer Composition
Reactivity Ratios
Resonance and Reactivity
A Closer Look at Microstructure
Copolymer Composition and Microstructure: Experimental Aspects
Characterizing Stereoregularity
A Statistical Description of Stereoregularity
Assessing Stereoregularity by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Ziegler-Natta Catalysts
Single-Site Catalysts

Polymer Conformations
Conformations, Bond Rotation, and Polymer Size    
Average End-to-End Distance for Model Chains    
Characteristic Ratio and Statistical Segment Length
Semiflexible Chains and the Persistence Length    
Radius of Gyration        
Spheres, Rods, and Coils       
Distributions for End-to-End Distance and Segment Density  
Self-Avoiding Chains: A First Look      

Thermodynamics of Polymer Solutions
Review of Thermodynamic and Statistical Thermodynamic Concepts 
Regular Solution Theory       
Flory-Huggins Theory       
Osmotic Pressure        
Phase Behavior of Polymer Solutions      
What's in c?         
Excluded Volume and Chains in a Good Solvent    

Light Scattering by Polymer Solutions
Introduction: Light Waves              
Basic Concepts of Scattering       
Scattering by an Isolated Small Molecule     
Scattering from a Dilute Polymer Solution
The Form Factor and the Zimm Equation     
Scattering Regimes and Particular Form Factors    
Experimental Aspects of Light Scattering     

Dynamics of Dilute Polymer Solutions
Introduction: Friction and Viscosity             
Stokes' Law and Einstein's Law      
Intrinsic Viscosity        
Measurement of Viscosity       
Diffusion Coefficient and Friction Factor    
Dynamic Light Scattering       
Hydrodynamic Interactions and Draining     
Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC)

Networks, Gels, and Rubber Elasticity
Formation of Networks by Random Cross-Linking    
Polymerization with Multifunctional Monomers    
Elastic Deformation        
Thermodynamics of Elasticity      
Statistical Mechanical Theory of Rubber Elasticity: Ideal Case     
Further Developments in Rubber Elasticity     
Swelling of Gels        

Linear Viscoelasticity
Basic Concepts        
The Response of the Maxwell and Voigt Elements    
Boltzmann Superposition Principle      
Bead-Spring Model       
Zimm Model for Dilute Solutions, Rouse Model for Unentangled Melts       
Phenomenology of Entanglement      
Reptation Model        
Aspects of Experimental Rheometry      

Glass Transition
Introduction         
Thermodynamics Aspects of the Glass Transition    
Locating the Glass Transition Temperature     
Free Volume Description of the Glass Transition    
Time–Temperature Superposition      
Factors that Affect the Glass Transition Temperature   
Mechanical Properties of Glassy Polymers     

Crystalline Polymers
Introduction and Overview       
Structure and Characterization of Unit Cells     
The Thermodynamics of Crystallization: Relation of Melting Temperature to Molecular Structure      
Structure and Melting of Lamellae      
Kinetics of Nucleation and Growth      
Morphology of Semicrystalline Polymers     
The Kinetics of Bulk Crystallization

Appendix
*Each Chapter contains a Chapter Summary and Problems

Reviews

"Written by well-established professors in the field, Polymer Chemistry, Second Edition, provides a well-rounded and articulate examination of polymer properties at the molecular level. It focuses on fundamental principals based on underlying chemical structures, polymer synthesis, characterization, and properties . . . Polymer Chemistry, Second Edition offers a logical presentation of topics that can be scaled to meet the needs of introductory as well as more advances courses in chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering." – In Memoriile sectiilor Stiintifice, 2007, Vol. 30, No. 4   ". . . suitable for undergraduate or graduate students, and also for year-long course sequences. The chapters contain excellent worked-out problems as well as end-of-chapter problems, and include numerous figures, illustrations, and chemical sequences showing monomers and polymers. Summing Up: Highly Recommended." – P. G. Heiden, Michigan Technological University, in Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, August 2007, Vol. 44, No. 11