Polymer International 42 (1997) 441È442

Book Reviews

Mesomolecules : from molecules to materialsSearch series, vol. 1Edited by G. D. Mendenhall, A. Greenberg and J. F. Leibman.Chapman & Hall, New York, 1995.pp. xi ] 199, price £39.00.ISBN 0-412-03811-0

As the title implies, this is a progression from species of molec-ular size to the description of products which may bedescribed on the basis of continuing properties. Over the lastten years there has developed a greater awareness of theimportance of shape and moleculeÈmolecule interaction indeÐning the properties of materials. In the seven chapters, awide variety of di†erent conceptual approaches are explored.

Chapter 1 is a discussion going from molecules to materials,which jumps from polymers to proteins through molecularaggregates to inorganic gels. Chapter 2 is concerned withcascade molecules, or dendritic macromolecules ; Chapter 3with dendritic polynuclear metal complexes ; Chapter 4, onmolecular techtronics, exempliÐes the way in which hydrogenbonding can be used to build up large-scale organised struc-tures similar to those found in biological molecules. Theconcept of large three-dimensional structures is extended inChapter 5 with supramolecular assemblies from “tinker toyÏrigid-rod molecules. It is concerned with sta†anes and the wayin which these molecules can be linked to form extendedthree-dimensional structures. Chapter 6 is concerned withgraphite, Ñat, Ðbrous and spherical. In contrast to previouschapters, concerned with a sophisticated synthesis to formthree-dimensional structures, this chapter predominantly con-siders carbon and the way in which it can generate a widerange of di†erent topographies. It might be referred to as “ful-lerenes and beyondÏ ; and discusses a whole range of di†erenttypes of carbon structures which can be observed and the wayin which these may be related to the fullerene type of struc-ture. Chapter 7, although not numbered as such, is entitled“Fractal index and fractal notationÏ. This short chapterattempts to present the appropriate IUPAC convention andto resolve some of the issues around nomenclature in thisarea.

With dendrimers now being commonplace in the polymerliterature, a book which reviews the wealth of structures andfunctionalities now being produced should be a stimulus topolymer chemists interested in generating fractal materialswith speciÐc functionalities. This book attempts to bridgepolymers and biomimics and should be an inspiration tothose wishing to seek new functional materials. It is a topicalbook, of interest to both polymer and organic chemists.

R. A. Pethrick

Chemically modiÐed surfaces : recent developmentsEdited by J. J. Pesek, M. T. Matyska and R. R. Abuelafiya.Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996.pp. x ] 143, price £49.50, US$89.00.ISBN 0-85404-780-8

This volume is the proceedings of the sixth International Sym-posium on Chemically ModiÐed Surfaces held in San Jose, Cali-fornia, in 1995. It focuses mainly on ion silica surfaces. Thereare twenty-four chapters, which vary from complete abstractsto single-page summaries. Nine of the contributions deal withpolymer surfaces and include topics as diverse as plasmatreatment of Ñuorocarbons, modiÐed conducting polymers,polysiloxanes, self-assembly molecular layers and adsorptionof polyacrylate on alumina. Only two of the chapters arereally of interest to polymer scientists and it is doubtful ifthese will justify the purchase of this volume. It is indicatedthat there will be a conference in 1997. If the Royal Society ofChemistry is going to publish the proceedings, I suggest thatthey ensure the publication is more comprehensive than thispresent one. Eleven of the chapters are half-page abstracts andhence of limited value. I cannot recommend purchase of thisvolume as being good value for money.

R. A. Pethrick

Specialist periodical reports : photochemistry volume 26A. Gilbert, N. S. Allen, A. Cox, R. B. Cundall,W. M. Horspool, S. T. Reid and A. C. Weedon.The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1995.pp. x ] 475, price £179.50, US$319.00.ISBN 0-85404-400-0

The latest volume in this long-established series is devoted tothe literature published between July 1993 and June 1994, andis the combined work of seven distinguished reporters. Fol-lowing a brief “Introduction and review of the yearÏ, the con-tents are divided into four parts. The Ðrst of these, “Physicalaspects of photochemistryÏ, concentrates upon photophysicalprocesses in condensed phases. Triplet state processes arereviewed at some length, including those of fullerenes andcyclooctatetraene.

Part two, “Organic aspects of carbonyl compoundsÏ is thelongest (289 pages) and accounts for 1267 of the total of 2698references cited. It is subdivided into seven chapters dealingvariously with the photochemistry of di†erent compounds (e.g.alkenes and alkynes, aromatic systems) or with reactions,including photoelimination, photoreduction and photooxida-tion.

441Polymer International 0959-8103/97/$09.00 1997 SCI. Printed in Great Britain(

442 Book reviews

The third part, entitled “Polymer photochemistryÏ, encom-passes photopolymerisation, polymer luminescence, photo-stabilisation of polymers, photochemistry of dyed andpigmented polymers, and the photodegradation and photooxi-dation of polymers. The latter combined topic is consideredfor polymers ranging from polyimides to wool, and the photo-ablation of polymers is also surveyed here. In total, 658polymer photochemistry references are cited. The concludingfourth part is a review of “Photochemical aspects of solarenergy conversionÏ, including inter alia biological systems.

As with its predecessors in this series, the reviews containedhere are clear, concise and a pleasure to read, and the presen-tation of structures, diagrams and text is of the highest stan-dard. This book is unhesitatingly recommended as a valuableresource for those engaged in research in and around photo-chemistry.

M. D. Purbrick

Polymers and other advanced materialsEmerging technologies and business opportunitiesEdited by P. N. Prasad, J. E. Mark and T. J. Fai.Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York, 1995.pp. xvii ] 791, price US$159.50.ISBN 0-306-45210-3

This collection of papers is assembled from the proceedings ofa conference on Frontiers of Polymers and Advanced Materials

held in Kuala Lumpur in January 1995. The 80 contributionsincluded here are arranged under ten di†erent subject head-ings. Of the sections so formed, the three largest È namely“Composites and blendsÏ (17 papers), “Materials for photonicsÏ(12) and “High performance materialsÏ (11) È comprise one halfof the total contents. Within these sections there are particu-larly notable contributions by Berthelot, on “High mechanicalperformance composites and design of composite structuresÏ,by Dubois et al. on “Polymer dispersed liquid crystals forelectronic applicationsÏ, and by Madkour, on the “Origin ofcrystallinity in block and random terephthalateÈsebacatecopolymersÏ. In the latter, the eponymous systems are eleg-antly modelled using Monte Carlo methods.

High quality papers are also to be found elsewhere in thiscollection. In the “BiomaterialsÏ section, “Biotechnologicalapplications of enzymes for extremophilic organisms : synthe-sis of modiÐed monomersÏ, by Peluso et al., gives a lucidaccount of this exciting topic. Also, among the Ðve papersincluded under the heading “Recycling of materialsÏ, the con-tribution by Amass et al., questioning the “ ““EnvironmentallyfriendlyÏÏ fate of plastic waste?Ï and advocating the use of bio-degradable plastics as part of a well-structured plastic wastemanagement, is outstanding. The volume concludes with asection on “Business opportunitiesÏ, comprising Ðve briefsketches on diverse topics within its broad subject area. Thebook is in camera-ready format, and a total of 1233 referencesare cited.

M. D. Purbrick

Correction

Owing to a typesetting fault one of the book reviews on p. 488of Polymer International vol. 41 issue 4 was incorrect. Thecorrect version is given here :

and delivery systems for pharmaceutical formula-ExcipientstionsEdited by D. R. Karsa and R. A. Stephenson.The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1995.pp. viii ] 192, price £39.50.ISBN 0-85404-715-8

Chemical aspects of drug delivery systemsEdited by D. R. Karsa and R. A. Stephenson.The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996.pp. viii ] 162, price £49.50.ISBN 0-85404-706-9

These two camera-ready volumes overlap in the sense thatthey both discuss aspects of the use of speciality polymers inpharmaceutical systems. Both volumes originate from con-ferences held in Manchester.

The Ðrst volume is mainly concerned with use of excipients,which are subject to many di†ering regulatory arrangementsin di†erent parts of the world. Most chapters discuss the selec-tion and application of di†erent polymers, including cross-linked acrylic acid polymers, polymethacrylates, gelatin,triglycerides and water soluble cellulose ethers, including

hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (mainly in matrix systems),starches, xanthan gums, alginates and chitosan.

The second volume reviews novel materials for drugdelivery systems, including both natural and synthetic poly-mers, notably polyethylene oxides and derivatives, and otherselected water-soluble polymers and hydrogels. Some carbo-hydrate derivatives (including starch, lactose, microcrystallinecellulose and several natural polymers) are also considered.There is also an unexpected chapter on the use of solutions ofshellac (an insect secretion) in coatings for controlled releasesystems. Another chapter discusses the formulation of bio-adhesive polymers, and their characterisation, mainly basedon gelling polyacrylic acid systems. The use of pressure-sensitive adhesives (mainly polyisobutylenes, polyacrylate orsilicones) in transdermal drug delivery systems indicates thecomplex requirements required of the adhesiveÈapart fromlow irritancy and non-sensitivity to skin, low acute andchronic toxicity, such adhesives must have good adhesion tooily, wet, wrinkled and hairy skin : they should be resistant towater but be water-permeable. They should also leave no resi-dues on removal from the skin.

Both of these volumes describe the selection and applica-tion of polymers for speciÐc applications from a viewpoint notnormally considered by polymer scientists. For this alone,they are worth studying.

A.C. Finch

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL VOL. 42, NO. 4, 1997