POLYMER LETTERS EDITION 199

Chapter 5 illustrates, pictorially, various flow phenomena occurring in poly- mer processing operations. Chapter 6 describes, again pictorially, some plastics fabrication operations. In both chapters, very little quantitative discussion has been presented.

In summary, the book may be found interesting by those who appreciate qualitatively what is involved in plastics fabrication operations, but will be disappointing to those who look for a quantitative understanding of polymer melt rheology. Therefore the book may serve a useful purpose for those who operate plastics machinery on a daily basis.

C. D. Han

Polytechnic Institute of New York

Diffraction for Material Scientists, by Jerold M. Schultz, Prentice- Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1982, 287 pp. Price: $34.95.

Since the principal elastic scattering techniques, i.e., x-ray, electron, and neutron scattering, continue to provide the richest source of information con- cerning the organization of materials at an atomic or molecular level, the appearance of a graduate level textbook providing a unified but comprehensive approach to such techniques would seem to be highly desirable. Schultz has attempted to provide such a book but fails on two major points. First, the bias toward a purely mathematical treatment of diffraction and scattering phe- nomena at the expense of more descriptive material will discourage careful reading by students who view these techniques as merely additional investiga- tive tools.

Second, the book suffers irreparably from careless preparation and proof- reading. For example, in Chapter 3, which deals with the concept of recipro- cal space, the equations (3.16) defining real space vectors in terms of the cor- responding reciprocal space vectors are incorrect as is the designation of vec- tors in a figure (3.5) which attempts to show that a reciprocal lattice vector is normal to the real space plane from which it originates. Similar errors exist throughout. Chapter 5 on crystal structure analysis is perhaps the most offensive in terms of accuracy. The second equation implies that the magni- tude of a structure factor, not its square, is proportional to the measured intensity. Subscript and symbol changes (e.g., lower for upper case) abound. Most of the figures showing symmetry elements and their effects are either drawn wrong or incorrectly labeled. In showing the effect of a mirror plane, a circle is used as the object thus eliminating the important concept of a chirality change upon reflection. While most mistakes of this sort should be obvious to the specialist, they will seriously confuse the student or other novice reading this book.

Other chapters in the book cover an introduction to diffraction fundamen-

200 POLYMER LETTERS EDITION

tals, scattering by liquids and gases, x-ray physics, the dynamic theory of x-ray scattering, disordered crystals as well as low-angle and line-broadening effects for assemblies of small particles. Each chapter is followed by a problem set (without answers) and a bibliography of pertinent books and review articles. An index and three appendices containing derivations of the single-electron scattering factor and the fundamental equation of dynamical theory as well as data needed for solving the problems are also included.

Although the concept of this book is admirable, its execution is careless and I would be unwilling to recommend it to my own students. The econom- ics of the publishing industry aside, I would like to see this book corrected and reprinted in a form which would enlighten rather than enshroud.

William Winter

Polytechnic Institute of New York

Thermal Analysis in Polymer Characterization, edited by Edith A. Turi, Heyden & Son, Inc., Philadelphia, 1981. Price: $27.00.

Thermal analysis has expanded dramatically in use during the last few years as a primary polymer characterization approach. Recognition of advances is shown by the increasing number of symposia in this field. The 1980 Eastern Analytical Symposium devoted several sessions to this area, and this book pre- sents selected papers from this meeting, and is edited by Edith A. Turi, the session organizer. Dr. Turi has selected a number of excellent papers which show the versatility and usefulness of various thermoanalytical approaches. The topics are covered by the individual authors with an expertise, clarity, and cohesiveness not usually shown in a symposium edition.

B. Wunderlich’s “Determination of the History of a Solid by Thermal Anal- ysis” not only covers fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics, but its application to our understanding of polymer thermal history. This important subject for process development and property relationships serves as an appro- priate introductory chapter. The other stimulating chapters are as follows:

W. M. Prest, Jr., D. J. Luca, and F. J. Roberts, Jr., “The Capabilities and Applications of a Computer Controlled Differential Scanning Calorimeter.” Applications to aging processes and the compatibility of polymer blends are discussed.

J. H. Flynn, “Analysis of the Kinetics of Thermogravimetry: Overcoming Complications of Thermal History.” This chapter is a “must” for those in- volved with polymer degradation with polystyrene used as a model.

E. A. Turi, Y. P. Khanna, and J. A. Bender, “Effect of Diethylene Glycol Content of Polyethylene Terephthalate on its Thermal Transitions.” This is a study which relates the results of a chemical defect structure introduced during