Part IV

Polymer Synthesis

This final part of the book covers how we get from producing and testing polymers to the processing methods used to make useful polymeric products, the additives that are often used, and includes a discussion of some of the challenges encountered in the various markets for polymeric materials. The thermal and mechanical behavior of polymers influences the selection of processing techniques. This section addresses the equipment used to transform polymers into a variety of useful forms including molded shapes, fibers, tubes, and thin (and very thin) sheets as well as a range of application areas for polymers, including thermoplastics, surface finishes, synthetic fibers, adhesives, and rubbers.