Chemical Education Today

Book & Media Reviews

Introduction to Physical Polymer Science,
3rd Edition
by L. H. Sperling
Wiley-Interscience: New York, 2001. xl + 671 pp. Figs. and
tables. 24 16 cm, hardcover. ISBN 0-471-32921-5. $89.95.
reviewed by Shawn B. Allin

While most introductory polymer texts present a balanced

view of both the synthetic and physical aspects of the subject,
space constraints limit the depth to which the physical chemistry and physical properties of polymers can be discussed.
Sperling has filled this void since 1985, when the first edition of his Introduction to Physical Polymer Chemistry text was
released, and continues to fill the void with this updated edition.
There have been significant developments in polymer
science since the second edition was written in the early
1990s. The recent edition reflects these advances with the
addition of two new chapters entitled Polymer Surfaces and
Interfaces and Multicomponent Polymeric Systems. The
chapter on surfaces is especially timely and important owing
to the dramatic increase in the accessibility of electron microscopy techniques over the past decade. Browsing through
any recent issue of Macromolecules will attest to the increased
importance of surface analysis in polymer research.
The structure of the text remains similar to that of
previous editions in that it begins with a four-chapter introduction to polymer science and discussion of molecular
weights and molecular weight distributions. The physical
chemistry and properties of polymers are then discussed in
chapters dealing with concentrated solutions and the amorphous, crystalline, and liquid-crystalline states. Chapters on
the glass transition region, rubber elasticity, viscoelasticity,
and rheology and mechanical behavior round out the bulk
of the text. There is a concluding chapter on modern topics in
polymer science. The result is a comprehensive text that provides an excellent starting point for students and professionals
to begin their study of the physical aspects of polymer science.

Although it is possible to use this text without previous

exposure to the polymer field, I expect its largest market will
be at the chemistry and chemical engineering graduate level.
Readers fortunate enough to be located in institutions specializing in polymer science will be able to use this text after
completion of a course in thermodynamics. This text will also
be a valuable resource in materials science and applied
physics curriculums where an understanding of fundamental
intermolecular interactions is crucial.
Some of my favorite aspects of this text are the extensive
referencing of primary literature and the inclusion of general
reading suggestions at the end of each chapter. I was also
delighted to see the inclusion of references to Web sites at
the end of the first chapter. Although the number of URLs
was limited to four (Chemical Abstracts, Case-Western Reserve,
Penn State, and Southern Miss), this is understandable owing
to the dynamic (i.e., unstable) nature of many sites. The longterm stability of the chosen URLs will provide users with
excellent starting points to Web-based polymer resources for
years to come.
My one concern with this book is the lack of answers
to the end-of-chapter study problems. I firmly believe the
inclusion, and working, of problems is important for the
development of a thorough understanding of the material.
However, the lack of inclusion of solutions in the text, or
the availability of a solutions manual, limits the questions
pedagogical utility. Perhaps those adopting the text and
assigning questions from the book would be willing to forward
their solutions to Sperling for inclusion on his Lehigh University Web site.
In conclusion, the release of the third edition of Introduction to Physical Polymer Science is timely. This book should
be available to students in every school where chemistry or
chemical engineering is taught and will undoubtedly be
widely adopted at the graduate level. It is accessible to novices and experts alike, and would be an important addition
to the library of anyone dealing with polymeric materials.
Shawn B. Allin is in the Department of Chemistry and
Physics, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710;
allinsb@hal.lamar.edu.

JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu Vol. 78 No. 11 November 2001 Journal of Chemical Education

1469