Painter P. Fundamentals of Polymer Science. An Intr. 2ed 2000

Textbook in PDF format

Simply stated, polymers are very large molecules (macromolecules) that are comprised or built up of smaller units or monomers. The arrangements of these units, the various types of chains that can be synthesized and the shapes that these chains can bend themselves into, result in a class of materials that are characterized by an enormous and intriguing range of properties. Some of these are unique to polymers (e.g., rubber elasticity) and, as we shall see, are simply a consequence of their size and chain-like structure.
Polymer science is also a relatively new discipline and one that is characterized by extraordinary breadth. It involves aspects of organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, physics (particularly theories of the solid state and solutions), chemical and mechanical engineering and, for some special types of polymers, electrical engineering. Clearly, no one person has an in-depth knowledge of all these fields. Most polymer scientists seek a broad overview of the subject that is then usually supplemented by a more detailed knowledge of a particular area. This book is a first step towards the former and to give a flavor for the diversity of this subject matter we will commence with an outline of some of the areas we will cover.
The Nature of Polymeric Materials
Polymer Synthesis
Kinetics of Step-Growth and Addition Polymerization
Statistics of Step-Growth Polymerizations
Copolymerization
Spectroscopy and the Characterization of Chain Structure
Structure
Crystallization, Melting and the Glass Transition
Thermodynamics of Polymer Solutions and Blends
Molecular Weight and Branching
Mechanical and Rheological Properties