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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000003756073 | QD381.S49 1990 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
Giant Molecules: Essential Materials for Everyday Living and Problem Solving includes fascinating historical information on the development of polymer science, supported by a glossary and review questions with answers.
Reviews 1
Choice Review
Seymour and Carraher have brought together, into a small volume designed to capture the imagination and interest of nonscientists, the collective wisdom of two professional lifetimes immersed in the theory and practice of macromolecular science. For nonscientists they have written two chapters that are a tour-de-force: a year of general chemistry in about 20 pages, and a year of organic chemistry in a second chapter of about equal length. The first is rough and uneven, introducing too many terms, too much information, and too many ideas; the chapter on organic chemistry is smoother, more organized, and better directed. But it is with the third chapter that the authors really begin to succeed, rewarding the reader with a crisp, clean, and evenhanded display of polymer chemistry and polymer physics, neatly interwoven and explained so as to leave behind a sense of principles applied. The next 16 chapters cover both natural and synthetic polymers; fibers, elastomers, and coatings; treatments of thermoplastics and thermosets; engineering plastics, inorganic polymers, specialty polymers, and additives for polymers. The book ends with a brief look into the future role for giant molecules. As aids to learning, Seymour and Carraher, seasoned educators, have thoughtfully included an adequate glossary with each chapter and a set of brief questions to help reinforce their principal ideas. Unfortunately, their attempt at a bibliography that might be truly useful for a general audience is too comprehensive, and many of the selections are outdated. Still, nothing like this has been attempted as successfully since Fred Billmeyer's Synthetic Polymers: Building the Giant Molecule (CH, Jul'72), and although this reviewer is still fonder of Billmeyer's style, it is a pleasure to have Seymour and Carraher's substance, too. Highly recommended for undergraduate libraries in two-year and four-year colleges, and for university libraries. -L. W. Fine, Columbia University
Table of Contents
| The Building Blocks of Our World |
| Small Organic Molecules |
| Introduction to the Science of Giant Molecules |
| Relationships Between the Properties and Structure of Giant Molecules |
| Nature's Giant Molecules: The Plant Kingdom |
| Nature's Giant Molecules: The Animal Kingdom |
| Derivatives of Natural Polymers |
| Physical and Chemical Testing of Polymers |
| Fibers |
| Rubber (Elastomers) |
| Paints, Coatings, Sealants, and Adhesives |
| Thermoplastics |
| Thermosets |
| Engineering Plastics |
| Inorganic Polymers |
| Specialty Polymers |
| Additives for Polymers |
| The Future of Giant Molecules |
| Index |
