This book is intended to fill the knowledge gap between the chemical structure and the related physical characteristics of plastics necessary for appropriate material selection, design, and processing. The entire spectrum of plastics is addressed, including thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and blends. It also contains an in-depth presentation of the structure-property relationships of a wide range of plastics. One of the special features is the extensive discussion and explanation of the impact of relationships on processing and, vice-versa, the effect of processing on structure and properties. The book contains several application-oriented examples and is presented at an intermediate level for both practicing plastic engineers and advanced engineering students.

Contents Include:
Nomenclature; Abbreviations for Plastics; Other Abbreviations; Economic Development - Market Review and Predictions; General Characteristics of Polymeric Materials; Molecular Structure and Synthesis of Polymers; Structure of Polymeric Materials; Thermomechanical Properties; Mechanical Behavior; Aging and Stabilization; Overview of Selected Polymeric Materials.