Chemical Education Today
Book & Media Reviews
edited by
Jeffrey Kovac University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-1600
Introduction to Synthetic Polymers, 2nd Edition by Ian M. Campbell Oxford University Press: New York, 2000. 221 pp. ISBN 0-19-856470-8. $44.00. reviewed by Dean Waldow
Have you struggled to choose a textbook for an undergraduate introduction to polymer science course? In such a search, you will find many fine polymer textbooks that approach the subject from myriad directions. Many of the textbooks you will peruse are written at a level that is appropriate for starting graduate students or focused senior undergraduate students. These books start with necessary introductory material, after which the content is usually tailored to the approach and needs of a specific discipline: chemical engineers, rheologists, synthetic chemists, physical chemists, or others. If you have reached this point in your search, you may be thinking about how to adapt a particular text to your course. Do you skip portions that are at a graduate level and then augment with additional content from other sources? This tailored approach often works for advanced students; however, in introductory courses, you may want your students to use a single text. In your search for an introductory polymer textbook, I encourage you to add the second edition of Ian M. Campbell’s Introduction to Synthetic Polymers to your list. This concise book addresses many of the questions raised above and is written in a manner that leads to further investigation in the polymer science literature. Two questions provide a framework for discussion: (i) How do bulk properties connect with size and structure of the molecules that make them up? and (ii) How may properties be designed into the polymers via their synthesis? The most significant points of polymer science are introduced using a few key industrially relevant poly-
mers. These few synthetic polymers are chosen on the basis of what is most used in commercial venues and are used to introduce basic concepts. Consequently, students will often be able to relate to these materials because they will be familiar with them. Additional polymers are introduced in the later portion of the book. In reviewing the book, you will also notice that the author uses figures and literature from the 1990s. Most figures have a reference to provide a link with literature. Also, each chapter has exercises that test and augment knowledge from the chapter. These exercises are most often based on current literature and include references. Chapter 1 introduces general concepts and language. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 focus on concepts and measurement of molecular weight, the effect of microscopic structure in relation to bulk properties, and modern techniques of analysis of microstructure, respectively. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 move on to major synthetic techniques, such as step growth, many types of addition reactions (including living free radical), and ionic methods. Chapter 8 continues a discussion of properties common to bulk polymers. Chapter 9 broadens the exposure to different polymer systems through the consideration of specialty polymers, including liquid crystal polymers. Chapter 10 leaves students with a window into the future by presenting information on polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, and other topics. At 221 pages, this book is meant to be an introduction, not a definitive reference work. There are topics you won’t find in the text, including light scattering and the thermodynamics of polymer solutions. Overall, this book should well serve the needs of many introductory polymer science courses and provide a solid base for future study in the field. It is well worth consideration. Dean Waldow is in the Department of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447;
[email protected].
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 79 No. 5 May 2002 • Journal of Chemical Education
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