Polymer Surface Modification and Characterization

Rating:
Summary: An excellent, well written and comprehensive book
Review: One of my main areas of research is polymer surface characterization and surface treatment. As Project Area Manager for Polymeric Materials at the Institute for Surface Chemistry in Stockholm, it was my job to be familiar with the literature in this area. During that period I read many books and this was one of my very favorites.

The book is well presented and easy to follow. It manages to present the subject in a comprehensive and interesting manner with just the right level of detail. The major characterization methods such as (ESCA (XPS) and SIMS are described as well as an unusually good coverage of the tricky subject of contact angle measurement. Similarly, the methods for modifying polymers such as corona, flame and plasma treatments, plus surface grafting are all covered in a clear manner. The author is obviously an expert on this subject. One particularly useful aspect was that the author considers the industrial aspects of the treatment methods. He mentions topics such as treatment and equipment cost, reproducibility and compares the relative merits of different treatment methods. In my experience, it is unusual to find a combination of a high scientific level and awareness of industrial considerations.

This is one of a handful of truly invaluable books in my personal collection, highly recommended.