Characterization of Solid Polymers

Over the last decade there has been rapid progress in the techniques used to characterize polymers. Not only has there been significant advances in established methods but entirely new techniques have been developed and as a result the polymer scientist is now faced with an ever expanding array of experimental tools for addressing both fundamental scientific and industrial problems. These developments have important implications in terms of the quality and type of information now obtainable. The aim of this book is to review this progress and to highlight the areas of research that have been made possible. Novel techniques, such as scanning tunnelling and atomic force microscopy, are introduced along with new experimental advances in well established techniques such as infrared spectroscopy. Instrumentation currently available is reviewed and recent developments in structural techniques are described, with the aim of presenting the current "state-of-the-art" in a selection of areas. This book should be of interest to senior undergraduates and graduates of material science, chemistry, physics and engineering; all industrial scientists and engineers involved with polymers.