These new volumes of Advances in Polymer Science inform the reader on a broad variety of topics in the field of synthesis, characterization and application of polyimides. They describe and discuss results of recent fundamental research and applied research and focus on topics such as new synthetic methods, thermostable nanofoams, insulating wire enamels, thermosetting resins and liquid-crystalline polyimides.

The purpose of this book is to publish new discoveries from leading international laboratories including academia, government, and industrial institutions. The multidisciplinary nature of fluoropolymer research lends their development to applications including, but not limited to, automotive, aerospace, biomedical, and defense technologies.

Definitions of what is meant by a heat-resistant polymer vary considerably. We have taken the term to mean a polymer which can be used, at least for short time periods, at temperatures from 150°C. The greatest problem which arises in writing a monograph on such materials is the tremendous amount of data that is available. More than 2000 references have been published on one heat-resistant polymer system alone over a period of little more than two years. The result is that a very high degree of selectivity must be exercised with respect to the information reproduced. We have chosen to restrict our coverage to polymers that have received at least some degree of commercial exploitation and to details of their methods of preparation, their thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities and modes of degradation, and their properties at elevated temperatures. It must be emphasized that other properties not cited, e. g. , hydrolytic and chemical stability, and resistance to ultraviolet radiation, may be equally important in particular uses of these materials. The "older" heat-resistant polymers, e. g. , the thermosets and some of the fluorine-containing materials, are not dealt with in such depth as are the "newer" polymers with aromatic and/or heterocyclic rings in the chain. This is because books have been available for some time on the well-established commercial polymers and developments in them have not been as marked re cently as in the aromatic and heterocyclic macromolecules.

This thematic issue devoted to 'Template Effects and Molecular Organization' is based on a special symposium recently organized by the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia. The authors contributed oral presentations and are experts in their fields. Each chapter is fully referenced Contains comprehensive reviews written by leading experts in the field Includes new information on the important advances in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry

Advances in Materials surveys the developments in materials science and technology. This book examines the limitations imposed by materials on the development of technology. Organized into 34 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the techniques in solving the technical challenge in the field of materials. This text then defines the difficult environments considered in this investigation, which include mechanical stress, erosion, chemical attack, and thermal shock at temperatures above about 1200°C. Other chapters consider the successful development of nuclear thermionic converters, which centers heavily on the development of materials capable of enduring rather difficult working conditions for longer periods of time. This book discusses as well the techniques, such as the planar and epitaxy technique, employed in the production of devices. The final chapter deals with the rate of development in the equipment used in the fabrication of plastics. This book is a valuable resource for polymer scientists, materials scientists, engineers, and metallurgists.