Regine Penzkofer & Yasue Wu 
Polymer Chains 
Structure, Physical Properties and Industrial Uses

The physical properties of a polymer are strongly dependent on the size or length of the polymer chain. As chain length is increased, melting and boiling temperatures increase quickly. Impact resistance also tends to increase with chain length, as does the viscosity, or resistance to flow, of the polymer in its melted state. In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the structure, physical properties and industrial uses of polymer chains. Topics discussed include the flexibility of polyheteroarylenes and the effect on several physical properties of these polymers; aliphatic polyester-based nanocomposites; bioplastic-based blends; interactions in small permeants in polymeric matrices; the role of polymer chain ends in plasma surface modification and preceramic polymer chains.