A collection of review papers which give an up-to-date interdisciplinary view of current technology and research on polymer surfaces. Contributors are drawn from both academia and industry, and represent a cross-section of subject interests.

Polymeric materials are used for a legion of applications in a wide array of technological areas, and their proper surface/interface characteristics are of cardinal importance for their applications. Therefore, the need to characterize polymer surfaces/interfaces and their suitable modification to impart desired characteristics is quite patent. This book chronicles the proceedings of the Symposium on Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces: Characterization, Modification and Application held as a part of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference, Boston, May 7--11, 1995. The articles in this book address many aspects of polymer surfaces and interfaces. Topics covered include: various ways (chemical, photochemical, laser, flame, corona) to modify polymer surfaces; modification of contact lens surfaces; various ways to analyze/characterize polymer surfaces; metal/polymer interfaces; metal/polyimide adhesion; metal/self-assembled organic monolayer interfaces; polymer alignment layers for liquid crystals; alignment of liquid crystal surfaces; polyimide alignment layers; molecular re-orientation of polymer surfaces; plasma polymerized organic coatings; epoxy/fiber interphase; epoxy underfill materials for packaging integrated circuits; transport in polymers; polymer miscibility; and cell adhesion.

In what is an extremely practical and applicable new work, experts provide concise explanations, with examples and illustrations, of the key techniques in this important field. In each case, after basic principles have been reviewed, applications of the experimental techniques are discussed and illustrated with specific examples. Scientists and engineers in research and development will benefit from an application-oriented book that helps them to find solutions to both fundamental and applied problems. They will know that the surfaces and interfaces of polymers play an important role in most of the application areas of polymers, from moulds, foils, and composites, to biomaterials and applications in micro- and nanotechnology.

In what is an extremely practical and applicable new work, experts provide concise explanations, with examples and illustrations, of the key techniques in this important field. In each case, after basic principles have been reviewed, applications of the experimental techniques are discussed and illustrated with specific examples. Scientists and engineers in research and development will benefit from an application-oriented book that helps them to find solutions to both fundamental and applied problems. They will know that the surfaces and interfaces of polymers play an important role in most of the application areas of polymers, from moulds, foils, and composites, to biomaterials and applications in micro- and nanotechnology.

Polymeric materials are used for a legion of applications in a wide array of technological areas, and their proper surface/interface characteristics are of cardinal importance for their applications. Therefore, the need to characterize polymer surfaces/interfaces and their suitable modification to impart desired characteristics is quite patent. This book chronicles the proceedings of the Symposium on Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces: Characterization, Modification and Application held as a part of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference, Boston, May 7--11, 1995. The articles in this book address many aspects of polymer surfaces and interfaces. Topics covered include: various ways (chemical, photochemical, laser, flame, corona) to modify polymer surfaces; modification of contact lens surfaces; various ways to analyze/characterize polymer surfaces; metal/polymer interfaces; metal/polyimide adhesion; metal/self-assembled organic monolayer interfaces; polymer alignment layers for liquid crystals; alignment of liquid crystal surfaces; polyimide alignment layers; molecular re-orientation of polymer surfaces; plasma polymerized organic coatings; epoxy/fiber interphase; epoxy underfill materials for packaging integrated circuits; transport in polymers; polymer miscibility; and cell adhesion.

A collection of review papers which give an up-to-date interdisciplinary view of current technology and research on polymer surfaces. Contributors are drawn from both academia and industry, and represent a cross-section of subject interests.

Physics of Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces emphasizes current theoretical ideas and modern experimental tools for characterizing the physical properties of polymer surfaces and interfaces. Foremost are their important roles in polymer technologythroughthe processes of wetting, adhesion, adsorption, and through their effect on the kinetics of phase separation and mechanical mixing of molten polymers. Each of the 14 chapters in this book stands as a 'mini-review' of a specific subject. Thisup-to-date compendium of the most significant theoretical and experimental works provides a scientific understanding of the physics of polymer interfaces and surfaces and will aid scientists in planning and interpreting new results.