Summary

This highly readable volume opens with a discussion of the growth of the polymer industry over the past 50 years, including production and uses of polymers, and the polymer industry's positive contributions to the nation's balance of trade. The basics of polymers are also covered - what they are, how they are made, modified, and processed, how and why they were developed, and what factors account for their varied physical properties. The problems that accompany the widespread use of polymers are addressed through an examination of pollution, litter, landfill, overflow, and ocean pollutions. The volume looks to the future with a review of the ever-increasing number of industries that now use polymers. There is also a discussion of the global market for polymers and the trend toward internationalization of the polymer industry. The future of polymer science is addressed as it relates to education and technical training, collaborative research and development efforts among universities, corporations, and government, and policy considerations that affect these endeavors.