This volume was conceived out of the concern with what the imminent future holds for the "have" countries ... those societies, such as the United States, which are based on complex technology and a high level of energy consumption. Even the most sanguine projection includes as base minimum relatively rapid and radical change in all aspects of the society, reflecting adaptation or reactions to demands created by poten tial threat to the technological base, sources of energy, to the life-support system itself. Whatever the source of these threats-whether they are the result of politically...

The Advanced Study Institute on "Theoretical Aspects and New Developments in Magneto-Optics" was held at the University of Antwerpen (R.U.C.A.), from July 16 to July 28, 1979. The Institute was sponsored by NATO. Co-sponsors were: Agfa-Gevaert (Belgium), A.S.L.K. (Belgium), Bell Telephone Mfg. CO. (Belgium), Esso Belgium, Generale Bankmaatschappij (Belgium), General Motors (Belgium), I.B.M. (Belgium), Kredietbank (Belgium), Metallurgie Hoboken-Over- pelt (Belgium), National Science Foundation (U.S.A). A total of 60 lecturers and participants attended the Institute. Scope of the Institute The...

On this, the dawning of a new age in high technology, man is seeking answers to increasingly complex problems. We are routinely launching reusable vehicles into space, designing and building computers with seemingly limitless powers, and developing sophisticated communications systems using laser technology, fiber optics, holography, etc., all of which require new and advanced materials. Polymer alloys continue to provide new solutions to the materials problems, and remain an area of ever increasing research. Polymer alloys are mu1ticomponent macromolecular systems. The components may be all...

My heart sank when I was approached by Dr Hastings and by Professor Briggs (Senior Editor of Materials Science and Technology and Series Editor of Polymer Science and Technology Series at Chapman & Hall, respectively) to edit a book with the provisional title Handbook of Poly propylene. My reluctance was due to the fact that my former book 1] along with that of Moore 2], issued in the meantime, seemed to cover the information demand on polypropylene and related systems. Encour aged, however, by some colleagues (the new generation of scientists and engineers needs a good reference book with...

Although plastics are extremely successful commercially, they would never reach acceptable performance standards either in properties or processing without the incorporation of additives. With the inclusion of additives, plastics can be used in a variety of areas competing directly with other materials, but there are still many challenges to overcome. Some additives are severely restricted by legislation, others interfere with each other-in short their effectiveness varies with circumstances.
Plastics Additives explains these issues in an alphabetical format making them easily...

New technologies constantly generate new demands for exotic materials to be used in severe environments. The rapid developments of aerospace industries during the last two decades have required new materials to survive extreme high and low temperatures and various radiations. The exploration of new energy sources, e.g., solar and geothermal, has led us to develop new solar collectors and geothermal devices. Even the search for new oils has demanded that we study the corrosive environment of oil fields. In the telecommunication industries, optical fibers have been adopted broadly to replace...

Polymers and polymer based composites have gained increasingly larger applications in medicine and surgery. Presently, most biomaterials applications rely on industrial substances that were initially developed by industry for non-medical purposes. Moreover, polymers have been often used regardless of their peculiar characteristics which can be viceversa and very attractive for some specific applications. In the past years we have assisted to a significative and faster development of polymer science as well as of medicine and surgery. The assistance of computer aided apparatus, the use of...

"Polymer Science and Engineering: Challenges, Needs, and Opportunities," a report issued in 1981 by the National Research Council's ad hoc Panel on Polymer Science and Engineering gives ample support for the urgent need of increased commitment to basic studies on polymers. Needs and opportunities, mentioned in the Panel's list, included polymerization methods, specialty polymers, high performance materials, and in situ (reaction injection molding) polymerization for direct conversion of monomers/oligomers to useful shapes. Clearly, in all these and several other areas, advances in polymer...

Since the first symposium on Recent Advances in Adhesion, held September, 1971 in Washington, D. C., this Division of the American Chemical Society has continuously sponsored several symposia on adhesion and adhesives. The chemists have gradually realized the importance of adhesion in various fields of science and technology. During these years, the science of adhesion has steadily grown along with progress in surface science and fracture mechanics. Moreover, new adhesives have been invented and applied in actual structures, for example, structural and aerospace adhesives. In response to...