Overview

The Equilibrium Theory of Inhomogeneous Polymers provides an introduction to the field-theoretic methods and computer simulation techniques that are used in the design of structured polymeric fluids. By such methods, the principles that dictate equilibrium self-assembly in systems ranging from block and graft copolymers, to polyelectrolytes, liquid crystalline polymers, and polymer nanocomposites can be established. Building on an introductory discussion of single-polymer statistical mechanics, the book provides a detailed treatment of analytical and numerical techniques for addressing the conformational properties of polymers subjected to spatially-varying potential fields. This problem is shown to be central to the field-theoretic description of interacting polymeric fluids, and models for a number of important polymer systems are elaborated. Chapter 5 serves to unify and expound the topic of self-consistent field theory, which is a collection of analytical and numerical techniques for obtaining solutions of polymer field theory models in the mean-field approximation. The concluding Chapter 6 provides a discussion of analytical methods for going beyond the mean-field approximation and an introduction to the exciting new field of field-theoretic polymer simulations - the direct numerical simulation of polymer field theory models. No other book brings together in such a detailed and instructive fashion the theoretical and numerical tools for investigating the equilibrium structure and thermodynamics of meso-structured polymer formulations, including those relevant to soft material nanotechnologies, personal care products, and multiphase plastic materials.

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9780199673797

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Reviews

A very worthwhile book based on a wealth of experience. Denis Weaire, Trinity College, Dublin Excellent ... of interest to many students in polymer science and interfacial science. Pierre-Gilles DeGennes, College de France

Author Information

2004 Mitsubishi Chemical Chair in Functional Materials, UCSB 2003 Election to the National Academy of Engineering, USA 1999 Alpha Chi Sigma Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers 1998 Fellow, American Physical Society 1994 Professor Joliot Curie, E.S.P.C.I., Paris, France 1993 George T. Piercy Dist. Prof. of Chem. Engr., U. Minnesota 1992 Alfred P. Sloan Fellow 1992 John H. Dillon Medal, American Physical Society, 1991 Allan P. Colburn Lecturer, Dept. of Chem. Engr., U. Delaware 1991 Camille & Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award 1990 NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award 1989 Distinguished Technical Staff Award, AT&T Bell Laboratories 1984 Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 1981 M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 1980 B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Florida

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