Filling a gap in the market, this textbook provides a concise, yet thorough introduction to polymer science for advanced engineering students and practitioners, focusing on the chemical, physical and materials science aspects that are most relevant for engineering applications.

After covering polymer synthesis and properties, the major section of the book is devoted to polymeric materials, such as thermoplastics and polymer composites, polymer processing such as injection molding and extrusion, and methods for large-scale polymer characterization. The text concludes with an overview of engineering plastics. The emphasis throughout is on application-relevant topics, and the author focuses on real-life, industry-relevant polymeric materials.

Stoyko Fakirov is currently visiting professor in the Centre for Advanced Composite Materials at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He studied chemistry at the University of Sofia, Bulgaria, and received his PhD from the Lomonossov State University in Moscow. Stoyko Fakirov is member of the editorial board of 12 international journals on polymers and advanced materials. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, edited or co-edited and always contributed to 15 books on polymer science and holds nine US patents.

1;Fundamentals of Polymer Science for Engineers;1 2;Contents;9 3;Preface;17 4;Acknowledgments;17 5;Part One: Introduction;21 5.1;1: Introduction;23 5.1.1;1.1 Milestones in the Development of Polymer Science;23 5.1.2;1.2 Basic Terms and Definitions in Polymer Science;31 5.1.2.1;1.2.1 Polymer;31 5.1.2.2;1.2.2 Monomer;32 5.1.2.3;1.2.3 End Groups;33 5.1.2.4;1.2.4 Degree of Polymerization;33 5.1.2.5;1.2.5 Copolymers;33 5.1.2.6;1.2.6 Average Molecular Weights and Distributions;34 5.1.2.7;1.2.7 Molecular Weight and Molar Mass;36 5.1.2.8;1.2.8 Polymer Morphology;37 5.1.2.9;1.2.9 Thermoplastics;37 5.1.2.10;1.2.10 Elastomers;38 5.1.2.11;1.2.11 Plastics;39 5.1.2.12;1.2.12 Thermosetting Resin;39 5.1.2.13;1.2.13 Polymer Blends;39 5.1.2.14;1.2.14 Tacticity;40 5.1.2.15;1.2.15 Polymerization and Functionality;40 5.1.2.16;1.2.16 Polymerization Processes;40 5.1.2.17;1.2.17 Addition or Chain Polymerization;41 5.1.2.18;1.2.18 Step Polymerization;43 5.1.2.19;1.2.19 Molecular Architecture;47 5.1.2.20;1.2.20 Phase;47 5.1.3;1.3 Bonding Opportunities in Chemistry;51 5.1.3.1;1.3.1 Primary Bonds;51 5.1.3.2;1.3.2 Typical Primary Bond Distances and Energies;52 5.1.3.3;1.3.3 Secondary Bond Forces;52 5.1.3.3.1;1.3.3.1 Dipole Forces;53 5.1.3.3.2;1.3.3.2 Hydrogen Bonds;53 5.1.3.3.3;1.3.3.3 Interrelation of Intermolecular Forces;54 5.1.4;General Encyclopedias and Dictionaries;56 5.1.5;References and Literature Recommendations;56 6;Part Two: Physical Properties of Polymers;61 6.1;2: Flexibility of Polymer Chains and Its Origin;63 6.1.1;2.1 Conformational Stereoisomerism of Macromolecules;63 6.1.2;2.2 Conformational Statistics of Chain Models;69 6.1.3;2.3 Types of Flexibility and Their Quantitative Treatment;73 6.2;3: Amorphous State of Polymers;79 6.2.1;3.1 Characterization of State of Matter;79 6.2.2;3.2 State of Matter and Phase Transitions of Condensed Substances. Glass Transition;81 6.2.3;3.3 Deformation of Polymers. Three Deformational (Relaxational) States of Polymers;84 6.2.4;3.4 Relaxation Phenomena;91 6.2.4.1;3.4.1 Relaxation Phenomena in Low Molecular Weight Substances;91 6.2.4.2;3.4.2 Relaxation Phenomena in High Molecular Weight Substances;92 6.2.4.3;3.4.3 Time-Temperature Superposition (WLF Equation);97 6.2.5;3.5 Glassy State of Polymers;99 6.2.5.1;3.5.1 Dependence of Glass Transition Temperature on Chemical Composition and Structure of the Polymer;99 6.2.5.2;3.5.2 Peculiarities of Polymer Glasses;103 6.2.6;3.6 High Elastic State of Polymers;105 6.2.6.1;3.6.1 Molecular Kinetic Interpretation of High Elasticity;106 6.2.6.2;3.6.2 Thermodynamic Interpretation of High Elasticity;107 6.2.7;3.7 Viscous Liquid State of Polymers;108 6.2.7.1;3.7.1 Molecular Mechanism of Flow. Rheology of Molten Polymers;108 6.2.7.2;3.7.2 Mechanical Glassifying of Polymer Melts. Importance of Viscous Liquid State for Polymer Processing;111 6.2.8;3.8 Mechanical Models of Linear Polymers;113 6.2.9;3.9 Structure and Morphology of Amorphous Polymers, Polymer Melts, and Solutions;115 6.2.10;3.10 Liquid Crystalline Polymers;118 6.2.11;References;121 6.3;4: Crystalline Polymers;123 6.3.1;4.1 Peculiarities of Crystalline Polymers. Degree of Crystallinity;123 6.3.2;4.2 Prerequisites for Polymer Crystallization;126 6.3.3;4.3 Kinetics and Mechanisms of Crystallization;132 6.3.3.1;4.3.1 Thermodynamics of Nuclei Formation;132 6.3.3.2;4.3.2 Nuclei Formation in Polymer Systems;133 6.3.3.3;4.3.3 Dependence of the Rate of Nuclei Formation on Temperature;134 6.3.4;4.4 Growth of Nuclei (Crystals);136 6.3.4.1;4.4.1 Crystal Growth Theories;136 6.3.4.2;4.4.2 Dependence of Crystal Growth Rate on Temperature;138 6.3.5;4.5 Total Crystallization Rate;139 6.3.5.1;4.5.1 Mathematical Description of Phase Transition Kinetics;139 6.3.5.2;4.5.2 Basic Factors of the Total Crystallization Rate of Polymers;141 6.3.6;4.6 Melting and Recrystallization;144 6.3.6.1;4.6.1 Melting and Partial Melting;144 6.3.6.2;4.6.2 Thermodynamic Description of Melting Process and Melting Interval;145 6.3.6.3;4.6.3 Recrystallizat