Applications of Polymers

Natural polymers, such as proteins, starch, cellulose, hevea rubber, and gum which have been available for centuries, have been applied as materials for food, leather, sizings, fibers, structures, waterproofing, and coatings. During the past century, the use of both natural and syn thetic polymers has been expanded to include more intricate applications, such as membranes, foams, medicinals, conductors, insulators, fibers, films, packaging and applications requiring high modulus at elevated temperatures. The topics in this symposium which are summarized in this book are illustrative of some of the myriad applications of these ubiquitous mater ials. As stated in forecast in the last chapter in this book, it is cer tain that revolutionary applications of polymers will occur during the next decades. Hopefully, information presented in other chapters in this book will catalyze some of these anticipated applications. It is appropriate that these reports were presented at an American Chemical Society Polymer Science and Engineering Division Award Symposium honoring Dr. O.A. Battista who has gratifying to note that Phillips Pet roleum Company, which has paved the way in applications of many new poly mers, is the sponsor of this important award. We are all cheerfully expressing our thanks to this corporate spon sor and to Distinguished Professor Raymond B. Seymour of the University of Southern Mississippi who served as the organizer of this symposium and editor of this important book.