Polymer International 45 (1998) 427È428

Book Reviews

chemistry of paperTheJ. C. Roberts.Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996.pp. xiv] 182, price £15.95.ISBN 0-85404-518-X

Paper manufacture involves a remarkable amount of chem-istry, much of it involving polymer science. This modestvolume (both in size and price) in the excellent Royal Societyof Chemistry series of paperbacks, is aimed at chemistry grad-uates who require an introduction to the chemistry of papermanufacture. It describes, clearly and simply (as far as possiblefor a complex subject), the basic raw materials (mainlycellulosic), the need to remove lignin before papermaking, thepaper formation process (with the surface chemistry and theneed of suitable polyelectrolytes), and the use of additives (forÐbre retention and drainage), addition of internal sizes (mostof which are condensation polymers), and aspects of the modi-Ðcation of the properties of the resulting papers.

Two Ðnal chapters discuss the recycling of waste paper, andthe e†ects of papermaking on the environment. There is auseful, well-selected, reading list.

This is an excellent (and brief) volume, recommended unre-servedly to any reader with interest in (and curiosity) about animportant industry.

A.C. Finch

Bratislava international conference of macromolecules :11thThermal and photo-induced oxidation of polymers and its inhi-bition in the upcoming 21st century. Macromolecular Sym-posia, Vol. 115.Edited by Jozef Rychly.Hu� thig and Wepf, Zug, Switzerland, 1997.pp. 214, price SFr78, DM92, o� S647, US$56.ISBN 3-8539-312-2

This volume contains the texts of eleven plenary and invitedlectures presented in July 1996.

In his Preface the Editor mentions that scientists are nowstudying systems more and more complicated than the basicpolyoleÐns which have taken up so much of the e†ort appliedto polymer degradation for many years. Not only are thesystems more complex, but the physical character of thepolymer is currently appreciated as one of the importantfactors governing the progress of degradation. He alsobelieves that the subject is at a turning point where a newgeneration of chemists are re-evaluating the work of their pre-decessors and introducing new approaches ; representatives ofboth the older and the younger groups were present at themeeting, which, so the Editor believes, has “played a positive

role and contributed much to the topicÏ, although unfor-tunately he does not tell us how.

The lectures vary from those concentrating on a speciÐctype of system (water-borne acrylic coatings, PVC, ÑuorinatedoleÐns, allyl and vinyl ethers, polypropylene) to more generalreviews of inhibitive formulations (interactions of stabilizers),degradation mechanisms (triplet repulsion) via a few specialtopics.

For the most part, it is the old guard that is having its sayhere, and it may well be that some of the more provocativecontributions to the meeting came from the younger partici-pants, whose views are not recorded in this book.

D.A. Jenkins

scienceAdhesionJ. Comyn.Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1997.pp. x] 150, price £17.95.ISBN 0-85404-543-0

This is another in the excellent (and a†ordable) series of RoyalSociety of Chemistry paperbacks ; it is a Ðrst class commen-tary on the widespread and growing world of the use of adhe-sives in joining technology. It sets out to explain the principleswhich govern adhesive bonding and related technologies suchas sealing, printing and painting. Although the author hasmany years of cooperation (or conÑict) with engineers, the textis aimed at chemists : therefore, after the introduction of some(rather basic) polymer chemistry and theories of adhesion, itdescribes the technology of surface treatment (all surfaces aredirtyÈfor good adhesion, it depends how dirty). The chem-istry of adhesives (epoxy-based, phenolic adhesives for metals,phenol- or resorcinolÈformaldehyde condensates for wood,formaldehyde condensates for wood, and acrylic ester/acidadhesives for many other purposes) and adhesion promoters,the surface analysis of many di†erent substrates, the study ofcontact angles and interfaces, and surface thermodynamics,are followed by discussions of methods of measurement of theperformance of adhesive bonds. There is also a very briefchapter on pressure-sensitive adhesives. Finally, the e†ects ofthe environment (mainly water, but also oxygen and UV light)on adhesive bond performance (and failure) are discussed.

This small volume, reÑecting the authorÏs particular inter-ests, takes the whole extensive technology at a fast trot, andpresents a masterly summary in the process. With an elementof realism, the author also quotes the First Law of AdhesiveBonding which states, “If all else fails in the adhesive bond, useb . . . . . . great nailsÏ.

A.C. Finch

4271998 SCI. Polymer International 0959È8103/98/$17.50 Printed in Great Britain(