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