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.

Understanding the reactivity of monomers is crucial in creating copolymers and determining the outcome of copolymerization. Covering the fundamental aspects of polymerization, Synthesis and Applications of Copolymers explores the reactivity of monomers and reaction conditions that ensure that the newly formed polymeric materials exhibit desired properties. Referencing a wide-range of disciplines, the book provides researchers, students, and scientists with the preparation of a diverse variety of copolymers and their recent developments, with a particular focus on copolymerization, crystallization, and techniques like nanoimprinting and micropatterning.

Edited by a leading authority in the field, the first book on this important and emerging topic provides an overview of the latest trends in sequence-controlled polymers. Following a brief introduction, the book goes on to discuss various synthetic approaches to sequence-controlled polymers, including template polymerization, genetic engineering and solid-phase chemistry. Moreover, monomer sequence regulation in classical polymerization techniques such as step-growth polymerization, living ionic polymerizations and controlled radical polymerizations are explained, before concluding with a look at the future for sequence-controlled polymers. With its unique coverage of this interdisciplinary field, the text will prove invaluable to polymer and environmental chemists, as well as biochemists and bioengineers.

Many significant fundamental concepts and practical applications have developed since the publication of the best-selling second edition of the Handbook of Conducting Polymers. Now divided into two books, the third edition continues to retain the excellent expertise of the editors and world-renowned contributors while providing superior coverage of

The design and the realisation of well defined polymer architectures has become an important goal in macromolecular science. The prerequisite for achieving this goal is the availability of controlled polymerisation reactions. Living anionic polymerisation was the first reaction fulfilling these requirements. Cationic polymerisation only came into play when it was realised that it was possible to create an equilibrium between active and dormant species with the fraction of the dormant species being far superior to that of active ones. A corresponding principle applies to controlled radical polymerisation per formed in quite a number of modes such as nitroxide mediated polymerisation (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP), reversible addition frag mentation chain transfer (RAFT) or catalytic chain transfer (CCT) reactions. All of these variants of controlled radical polymerisation lead to well defined archi tectures with the particular advantage that a much larger number of monomers are suitable and the reaction conditions are much less demanding than those of living ionic polymerisation reactions. Although in controlled radical polymerisation, termination reactions cannot be excluded completely, they are limited in their extent and consequently the mol ecular weight is controlled, the polydispersity index is small and functionalities can be attached to the macromolecules. These features are indicative of the real isation of well defined polymer architectures such as block copolymers, star shaped and comb shaped copolymers.