Finch 1998

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Polymer International 45 (1998) 427È428

Book Reviews

The chemistry of paper role and contributed much to the topicÏ, although unfor-
J. C. Roberts. tunately he does not tell us how.
Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996. The lectures vary from those concentrating on a speciÐc
pp. xiv ] 182, price £15.95. type of system (water-borne acrylic coatings, PVC, Ñuorinated
ISBN 0-85404-518-X oleÐns, allyl and vinyl ethers, polypropylene) to more general
reviews of inhibitive formulations (interactions of stabilizers),
Paper manufacture involves a remarkable amount of chem- degradation mechanisms (triplet repulsion) via a few special
istry, much of it involving polymer science. This modest topics.
volume (both in size and price) in the excellent Royal Society For the most part, it is the old guard that is having its say
of Chemistry series of paperbacks, is aimed at chemistry grad- here, and it may well be that some of the more provocative
uates who require an introduction to the chemistry of paper contributions to the meeting came from the younger partici-
manufacture. It describes, clearly and simply (as far as possible pants, whose views are not recorded in this book.
for a complex subject), the basic raw materials (mainly
cellulosic), the need to remove lignin before papermaking, the A. D. Jenkins
paper formation process (with the surface chemistry and the
need of suitable polyelectrolytes), and the use of additives (for Adhesion science
Ðbre retention and drainage), addition of internal sizes (most J. Comyn.
of which are condensation polymers), and aspects of the modi- Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1997.
Ðcation of the properties of the resulting papers. pp. x ] 150, price £17.95.
Two Ðnal chapters discuss the recycling of waste paper, and ISBN 0-85404-543-0
the e†ects of papermaking on the environment. There is a
useful, well-selected, reading list. This is another in the excellent (and a†ordable) series of Royal
This is an excellent (and brief) volume, recommended unre- Society of Chemistry paperbacks ; it is a Ðrst class commen-
servedly to any reader with interest in (and curiosity) about an tary on the widespread and growing world of the use of adhe-
important industry. sives in joining technology. It sets out to explain the principles
which govern adhesive bonding and related technologies such
C. A. Finch as sealing, printing and painting. Although the author has
many years of cooperation (or conÑict) with engineers, the text
11th Bratislava international conference of macromolecules : is aimed at chemists : therefore, after the introduction of some
Thermal and photo-induced oxidation of polymers and its inhi- (rather basic) polymer chemistry and theories of adhesion, it
bition in the upcoming 21st century. Macromolecular Sym- describes the technology of surface treatment (all surfaces are
posia, Vol. 115. dirtyÈfor good adhesion, it depends how dirty). The chem-
Edited by Jozef Rychly. istry of adhesives (epoxy-based, phenolic adhesives for metals,
HuŽthig and Wepf, Zug, Switzerland, 1997. phenol- or resorcinolÈformaldehyde condensates for wood,
pp. 214, price SFr78, DM92, oŽS647, US$56. formaldehyde condensates for wood, and acrylic ester/acid
ISBN 3-8539-312-2 adhesives for many other purposes) and adhesion promoters,
the surface analysis of many di†erent substrates, the study of
This volume contains the texts of eleven plenary and invited contact angles and interfaces, and surface thermodynamics,
lectures presented in July 1996. are followed by discussions of methods of measurement of the
In his Preface the Editor mentions that scientists are now performance of adhesive bonds. There is also a very brief
studying systems more and more complicated than the basic chapter on pressure-sensitive adhesives. Finally, the e†ects of
polyoleÐns which have taken up so much of the e†ort applied the environment (mainly water, but also oxygen and UV light)
to polymer degradation for many years. Not only are the on adhesive bond performance (and failure) are discussed.
systems more complex, but the physical character of the This small volume, reÑecting the authorÏs particular inter-
polymer is currently appreciated as one of the important ests, takes the whole extensive technology at a fast trot, and
factors governing the progress of degradation. He also presents a masterly summary in the process. With an element
believes that the subject is at a turning point where a new of realism, the author also quotes the First Law of Adhesive
generation of chemists are re-evaluating the work of their pre- Bonding which states, “If all else fails in the adhesive bond, use
decessors and introducing new approaches ; representatives of b . . . . . . great nailsÏ.
both the older and the younger groups were present at the
meeting, which, so the Editor believes, has “played a positive C. A. Finch
427
( 1998 SCI. Polymer International 0959È8103/98/$17.50 Printed in Great Britain

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