BOOK REVIEWS Fundamentals of High Polymers
0. A . Baltista, Research and Development Division, American Visrose Corp. Reinhold Publishing Corp., S e w York, 1058. 140 pp. 28 figs. 10 tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $5. 50. This hook aras m i t t e n as an introductory text lor courses on high polymers at the undergraduate level. I n this respect, the hook appears t o he unique, ~ i n c eother polymer texts (including that written by the reviewer) were prepared for use by more advanced studonts or hv sneeialists.
chemistry nor calculns k required as prerequisite to an understanding of the text, but some prior knowledge of organic chemistry is needed. After an introductory chapter giving hasic terms and definitions, the fimt half of the hook consists of a dincu~sionof the chemistr,~of high polymers, dealing in a genoral way with the stn~cturesof cellulose, it,n derivatives, and polypeptides, and of stereoregular and network palymers. Addition and condensation polymerization are reviewed briefly with a description of a few of the products made b y these processes. Part 2, Formation of Products from Mxcromolecules, deals with the physical aspects of polymer stmcture. It includes discumions of crystal-
A244
/
Journal of Chemical Education
linity, micelles, and fibrils; molecular weight and palydispersity; orientation, ervstallite sizo. and Dolvnhase structure: &d the physi6al properties of high polymers. I t would seem an essential requirement that an elementary textbook should give a clear, forceful, concise, and impartial presentation of the basic principles of its suhjeet. The student is dependent on such a. treatment if he is to form and retain a clear and valid concept of the material presented. Unfortunately, "Fundamentals of High Polymers" does not achieve the clarity, completeness, and impartiality required in a hook aimed a t presenting first principles of this subject. The reviewer well knows the difficulty involved in meeting these requirements. Definitions fail to highlight hssir concepts. Crystallinity is defined without reference to the essential orderly structure and regular mrengement of the molecules. S t e r e o r e ~ l a rpolymers are defined r i t h respect t,o thc properties of two-dimensional representations of the polymer chain rather than its fundamental spatial properties. Basic concepts are often omitted or obscured. The random coil concept, so fundament,ally related t o tho behavior of elastomers and of polymer solutions, is nowhere to he found. The unique crystalline-amorphous structure of polymers is only vaguely referred to, and no dist,inctian is made between sneh eharacteristie as crystalline melting and amorphous softening (glass) tmnsitions.
.
".
Discussion is often incomplete. The concepts of initiation and propagation in addition oolvmeriaa.tition are nresented " (hut not ident,ified),yet the equally essential step of termination is omitted (hut referred t o later). The fabrication of raw polymw into finished article ia described only for fibers. Illustrative material is not impartiill. Over one-third of the book deals with eellulose and its derivatives. Since addit,ional emphasis is given t o fiber properties, discussion of plastics and elastomers is almost exrluded. We reluctantly conclude that this hook cannot he ~.eeommencledfor nndergraduate u8e or for B firnt introduction to polymer chemistrv. We shall have t o wait a while longer for the definit,ive introductory text on high polymers.
.
FREDW. BILIXEYER, JR.
E. I. d i ~Ponl de Nemotm & Cornpony Wilminglon, Delawam Batter Report Writing
Willis H . Waldo, Monssnto Chemical Ca. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1957. vii 231 pp. 13.5 X 19 em. $4.75.
+
The mnnv hooks and articles on better technical writing that have appeared recently might seem to leave little to say. Xonet,heless, today's scientific papers and technical reports show that all of this advice has not yet hrought ahout a high
(Continued on page A248)
