Chapter 1: Introduction to Polymer Science
1.1 From Little Molecules to Big Molecules
1.2 Molecular Weight and Molecular Weight Distributions
1.3 Major Polymer Transitions
1.4 Polymer Synthesis and Structure
1.5 Cross-Linking, Plasticizers, and Fillers
1.6 The Macromolecular Hypothesis
1.7 Historical Development of Industrial Polymers
1.8 Molecular Engineering

Chapter 2: Chain Structure and Configuration
2.1 Examples of Configurations and Conformations
2.2 Theory and Instruments
2.3 Stereochemistry of Repeating Units
2.4 Repeating Unit Isomerism
2.5 Common Types of Copolymers
2.6 NMR in Modern Research
2.7 Multicomponent Polymers
2.8 Conformational States in Polymers
2.9 Analysis of Polymers During Mechanical Strain
2.10 Photophysics of Polymers
2.11 Configuration and Conformation

Chapter 3: Dilute Solution Thermodynamics, Molecular Weights, and Sizes
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Solubility Parameter
3.3 Thermodynamics of Mixing
3.4 Molecular Weight Averages
3.5 Determination of the Number-Average Molecular Weight
3.6 Weight-Average Molecular Weights and Radii of Gyration
3.7 Molecular Weights of Polymers
3.8 Intrinsic Viscosity
3.9 Gel Permeation Chromatography
3.10 Mass Spectrometry
3.11 Instrumentation for Molecular Weight Determination
3.12 Solution Thermodynamics and Molecular Weights

Chapter 4: Concentrated Solutions, Phase Separation Behavior, and Diffusion
4.1 Phase Separation and Fractionation
4.2 Regions of the Polymer-Solvent Phase Diagram
4.3 Polymer–Polymer Phase Separation
4.4 Diffusion and Permeability in Polymers
4.5 Latexes and Suspensions
4.6 Multicomponent and Multiphase Materials

Chapter 5: The Amorphous State
5.1 The Amorphous Polymer State
5.2 Experimental Evidence Regarding Amorphous Polymers
5.3 Conformation of the Polymer Chain
5.4 Macromolecular Dynamics
5.5 Concluding Remarks

Chapter 6: The Crystalline State
6.1 General Considerations
6.2 Methods of Determining Crystal Structure
6.3 The Unit Cell of Crystalline Polymers
6.4 Structure of Crystalline Polymers
6.5 Crystallization from the Melt
6.6 Kinetics of Crystallization
6.7 The Reentry Problem in Lamellae
6.8 Thermodynamics of Fusion
6.9 Effect of Chemical Structure on the Melting Temperature
6.10 Fiber Formation and Structure
6.11 The Hierarchical Structure of Polymeric Materials
6.12 How do You Know It's a Polymer?

Chapter 7: Polymers in the Liquid Crystalline State
7.1 Definition of a Liquid Crystal
7.2 Rod-Shaped Chemical Structures
7.3 Liquid Crystalline Mesophases
7.4 Liquid Crystal Classification
7.5 Thermodynamics and Phase Diagrams
7.6 Mesophase Identification in Thermotropic Polymers
7.7 Fiber Formation
7.8 Comparison of Major Polymer Types
7.9 Basic Requirements for Liquid Crystal Formation

Chapter 8: Glass–Rubber Transition Behavior
8.1 Simple Mechanical Relationships
8.2 Five Regions of Viscoelastic Behavior
8.3 Methods of Measuring Transitions in Polymers
8.4 Other Transitions and Relaxations
8.5 Time and Frequency Effects on Relaxation Processes
8.6 Theories of the Glass Transition
8.7 Effect of Molecular Weight on Tg
8.8 Effect of Copolymerization on Tg
8.9 Effect of Crystallinity on Tg
8.10 Dependence of Tg on Chemical Structure
8.11 Effect of Pressure on Tg
8.12 Damping and Dynamic Mechanical Behavior
8.13 Definitions of Elastomers, Plastics, Adhesives, and Fibers

Chapter 9: Cross-Linked Polymers and Rubber Elasticity
9.1 Cross-Links and Networks
9.2 Historical Development of Rubber
9.3 Rubber Network Structure
9.4 Rubber Elasticity Concepts
9.5 Thermodynamic Equation of State
9.6 Equation of State for Gases
9.7 Statistical Thermodynamics of Rubber Elasticity
9.8 The "Carnot Cycle" for Elastomers
9.9 Continuum Theories of Rubber Elasticity
9.10 Some Refinements to Rubber Elasticity
9.11 Internal Energy Effects
9.12 The Flory–Rehner Equation
9.13 Gelation Phenomena in Polymers
9.14 Gels and Gelation
9.15 Effect of Strain on the Melting Temperature
9.16 Elastomers in Current Use
9.17 Summary of Rubber Elasticity Behavior

Chapter 10: Polymer Viscoelasticity and Rheology
10.1 Stress Relaxation and Creep
10.2 Relaxation and Retardation Times
10.3 The Time-Temperature Superposition Principle
10.4 Polymer Melt Viscosity
10.5 Polymer Rheology
10.6 Overview of Viscoelasticity and Rheology

Chapter 11: Mechanical Behavior of Polymers
11.1 An Energy Balance for Deformation and Fracture
11.2 Deformation and Fracture in Polymers
11.3 Crack Growth
11.4 Cyclic Deformations
11.5 Molecular Aspects of Fracture and Healing in Polymers
11.6 Friction and Wear in Polymers
11.7 Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Polymers
11.8 Summary

Chapter 12: Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces
12.1 Polymer Surfaces
12.2 Thermodynamics of Surfaces and Interfaces
12.3 Instrumental Methods of Characterization
12.4 Conformation of Polymer Chains in a Polymer Blend Interphase
12.5 The Dilute Solution–Solid Interface
12.6 Instrumental Methods for Analyzing Polymer Solution Interfaces
12.7 Theoretical Aspects of the Organization of Chains at Walls
12.8 Adhesion at Interfaces
12.9 Interfaces of Polymeric Biomaterials with Living Organisms
12.10 Overview of Polymer Surface and Interface Science

Chapter 13: Multicomponent Polymeric Materials
13.1 Classification Schemes for Multicomponent Polymeric Materials
13.2 Miscible and Immiscible Polymer Pairs
13.3 The Glass Transition Behavior of Multicomponent Polymer Materials
13.4 The Modulus of Multicomponent Polymeric Materials
13.5 The Morphology of Multiphase Polymeric Materials
13.6 Phase Diagrams in Polymer Blends (Broad Definition)
13.7 Morphology of Composite Materials
13.8 Nanotechnology-Based Materials
13.9 Montmorillonite Clays
13.10 Fracture Behavior of Multiphase Polymeric Materials
13.11 Processing and Applications of Polymer Blends and Composites

Chapter 14: Modern Polymer Topics
14.1 Polyolefins
14.2 Thermoset Polymer Materials
14.3 Polymer and Polymer Blend Aspects of Bread Doughs
14.4 Natural Product Polymers
14.5 Dendritic Polymers and Other Novel Polymeric Structures
14.6 Polymers in Supercritical Fluids
14.7 Electrical Behavior of Polymers
14.8 Polymers for Nonlinear Optics
14.9 Light-Emitting Polymers and Electroactive Materials
14.10 Optical Tweezers in Biopolymer Research
14.11 The 3-D Structure and Function of Biopolymers
14.12 Fire Retardancy in Polymers
14.13 Polymer Solution-Induced Drag Reduction
14.14 Modern Engineering Plastics
14.15 Major Advances in Polymer Science and Engineering

References
General Reading
Study Problems
Index