Examination of the early literature attests to the fact that the study of copolymerization was initiated when polymer science was in its infancy. It has continued to grow to a subject of major importance and has been a source of interest to both academic and industrialist alike. The wide spectrum of structures and properties available in the statistical copolymer has made this a fruitful field of exploration, but one particular and more restricted form which has held its own fascination for many is the limiting case of the strictly alternating copolymer. This is formed, in the ideal situation, when two monomers in a reaction mixture add consecutively to create a polymer chain with a regular {ABABAB} structure, irrespective of the monomer feed ratio. When this happens the resulting copolymer will always have the same composition, a feature which can be advantageous but also somewhat restrictive, as the ability to vary the properties is then limited. Within a series entitled Speciality Polymers it seems appropriate then to deal with this subject, particularly as no previous attempt has been made to draw together the various facets of alternating copolymerization into one volume. It also seems timely to present a more unified picture of the subject which will also illustrate the progress made.

This book discusses synthesis and characterization of sustainable polymers. The book covers opportunities and challenges of using sustainable polymers to replace existing petroleum based feedstock. This volume provides insights into the chemistry of polymerization, and discusses tailoring the properties of the polymers at the source in order fit requirements of specific applications. The book also covers processing of these polymers and their critical assessment. The book will be of use to chemists and engineers in the industry and academia working on sustainable polymers and their commercialization to replace dependence on petroleum-based polymers.

The book summarizes Ting Lei’s PhD study on a series of novel conjugated polymers for field-effect transistors (FETs). Studies contain many aspects of polymer FETs, including backbone design, side-chain engineering, property study, conformation effects and device fabrication. The research results have previously scattered in many important journals and conferences worldwide. The book is likely to be of interest to university researchers, engineers and graduate students in materials sciences and chemistry who wish to learn some principles, strategy, and applications of polymer FETs.

Most practitioners and students of polymer chemistry are familiar, in general terms at least, with the established methods of polymer synthesis - radical, anionic, cationic and coordination addition polymerization, and stepwise con densation and rearrangement polymerization. These methods are used to synthesize the majority of polymers used in the manufacture of commercially important plastics, fibres, resins and rubbers, and are covered in most introduc tory polymer chemistry textbooks and in most undergraduate and graduate courses on polymer science. Fewer polymer chemists, however, have much familiarity with more recent developments in methods of polymer synthesis, unless they have been specifically involved for some time in the synthesis of speciality polymers. These developments include not only refinements to established methods but also new mechanisms of polymerization, such as group transfer and metathesis polymerization and novel non-polymerization routes to speciality polymers involving, for example, the chemical modification of preformed polymers or the linking together of short terminally functionalized blocks.

Most practitioners and students of polymer chemistry are familiar, in general terms at least, with the established methods of polymer synthesis - radical, anionic, cationic and coordination addition polymerization, and stepwise con densation and rearrangement polymerization. These methods are used to synthesize the majority of polymers used in the manufacture of commercially important plastics, fibres, resins and rubbers, and are covered in most introduc tory polymer chemistry textbooks and in most undergraduate and graduate courses on polymer science. Fewer polymer chemists, however, have much familiarity with more recent developments in methods of polymer synthesis, unless they have been specifically involved for some time in the synthesis of speciality polymers. These developments include not only refinements to established methods but also new mechanisms of polymerization, such as group transfer and metathesis polymerization and novel non-polymerization routes to speciality polymers involving, for example, the chemical modification of preformed polymers or the linking together of short terminally functionalized blocks.

Conjugated polymers are gaining a lot of interest due to their inherent functional properties and applications in plastic electronics. Their characteristic charge transporting and conducting properties produces features including coloration, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, photoconductivity, and electrochromism. In order to develop new functional polymers, researchers need the background information on the synthesis of the different polymer systems. Conjugated Polymers focuses on the practical preparation of conjugated polymers with each chapter discussing a particular type of conjugated polymer including a general explanation of the polymer, experimental details for synthesis and characterization. Edited by world leading experts in the field of conjugated polymer synthesis, the book serves as a convenient guide for advanced undergraduate level and above.