Polymer Structure Characterization: From Nano to Macro Organization in Small Molecules and Polymers - Hardcover

Richard A Pethrick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184973433X ISBN 13: 9781849734332

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013

Synopsis

A textbook aimed at polymer and material scientists, but also of interest to chemists and physicists studying organic materials.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The different physical properties displayed by low molar mass organic materials and polymers are a result of their molecular organisation. In order to understand the structure - property relationship of a material it is necessary to first look at the interactions at a molecular level. This new edition of Polymer Structure Characterization provides readers with the background needed to understand the factors that influence molecular organization and how this affects the morphology and bulk physical properties of a material.

In order to introduce the concepts, the book first looks at small molecular systems and builds up to complex macromolecular systems. The second edition has been fully revised and updated to include new examples and references. Topics covered include: organic crystals, liquid crystals, plastic crystals, polymer crystal growth, amorphous glassy materials, polymer surfaces and interfaces, colloids and molecular organization in liquids as well as two new chapters on self-assembly and biopolymer systems.

The book is intended to provide complimentary material for a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in materials science, molecular chemistry and chemical physics. In addition to polymer and material scientists, the book would also be of interest to chemists and physicists studying the properties of organic materials.

From the Inside Flap

The different physical properties displayed by low molar mass organic materials and polymers are a result of their molecular organisation. In order to understand the structure property relationship of a material it is necessary to first look at the interactions at a molecular level. This new edition of Polymer Structure Characterization provides readers with the background needed to understand the factors that influence molecular organization and how this affects the morphology and bulk physical properties of a material.

In order to introduce the concepts, the book first looks at small molecular systems and builds up to complex macromolecular systems. The second edition has been fully revised and updated to include new examples and references. Topics covered include: organic crystals, liquid crystals, plastic crystals, polymer crystal growth, amorphous glassy materials, polymer surfaces and interfaces, colloids and molecular organization in liquids as well as two new chapters on self-assembly and biopolymer systems.

The book is intended to provide complimentary material for a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in materials science, molecular chemistry and chemical physics. In addition to polymer and material scientists, the book would also be of interest to chemists and physicists studying the properties of organic materials.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Polymer Structure Characterization

From Nano to Macro Organization in Small Molecules and Polymers

By Richard A Pethrick

The Royal Society of Chemistry

Copyright © 2014 Pethrick
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-84973-433-2

Contents

Chapter 1 Concept of Structure–Property Relationships in Molecular Solids and Polymers, 
Chapter 2 Crystal Growth in Small Molecular Systems, 
Chapter 3 Liquid Crystalline State of Matter, 
Chapter 4 Plastic Crystals, 
Chapter 5 Morphology of Crystalline Polymers and Methods for its Investigation, 
Chapter 6 Polymer Crystal Growth, 
Chapter 7 Glasses and Amorphous Material, 
Chapter 8 Polymer Blends and Phase Separation, 
Chapter 9 Molecular Surfaces, 
Chapter 10 Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces, 
Chapter 11 Colloids and Molecular Organization in Liquids, 
Chapter 12 Self Assembly and Building Nano Structures, 
Chapter 13 Biopolymer and Related Systems, 
Chapter 14 Molecular Organization and Higher Order Structures, 
Subject Index, 

CHAPTER 1

Concept of Structure–Property Relationships in Molecular Solids and Polymers

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Low molar mass organic molecules and polymeric materials are often found as solids and their physical properties are a consequence of the way in which they are organized: their morphology. The morphology is a result of specific molecular interactions which control the way in which individual molecules pack together to form a solid. Depending on the strength and nature of the interaction, a short- or long-range structure may be created and this leads to the formation of a crystalline, liquid crystalline, gel or amorphous solid. As we shall see later, the organization created at a molecular level may influence the longer range structures, but in other cases it does not, hence the subtitle of the book: From Nano to Macro Organization in Small Molecules and Polymers.

Synthetic polymers, often referred to as plastics, are familiar in the house as furniture, form the frames for double glazed windows, shopping bags, furnishings, carpets, curtains and covering for chairs, cabinets for televisions, paper and paint on the walls. Outside the house, plastics are used for septic, water and fuel storage tanks, garden furniture, water hoses, traffic cones, and they play an important part in automobiles, aircraft and sundry other items which we see around us. Removal of all articles containing polymers from a room would leave it bare and would require removal of human beings themselves, as we are all made up of polymeric materials. Synthetic plastics form the basis for many forms of food packaging, containers for cosmetics, soft drink containers and the trays used in microwave cooking of food. Natural polymers such as wood, cotton and wool all exhibit a high degree of order. Biopolymers, which are the very substance of life — as a consequence of specific, usually hydrogen bonding interactions — create morphology which forms the scaffold for life. Many inorganic oxides, silicates, phosphorous, boron nitride, sulphur etc. possess polymeric structure which imparts specific physical properties to the solids and have an identifiable nano structure.

Whilst the focus of this monograph is structure in polymeric materials, many of the interactions which control the organization of big molecules are best studied with lower molecular weight analogues. It is therefore appropriate to spend some time understanding small molecular systems before considering the complexity of macromolecular systems. It would be an imp

Edition details

• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184973433X
• ISBN 13: 9781849734332
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 491