Polymer International 46 (1998) 77È78

Book Reviews

symposia 121 : polymeric materialsMacromolecular

Edited by N. Hadjichristidis, G. Fytas and D. Theodorou.Hu� thig & Wepf Verlag, Heidelberg, 1997.pp. 277, price SFr100, DM118, o� S833, US$72.00.ISBN 3-85739-318-1

The twenty one papers which form this collection are basedupon presentations made at the 6th European Polymer Feder-ation Symposium on Polymeric Materials which was held inCrete in October 1996. The contents embrace the entire spec-trum of polymer science and its applications, and include con-tributions on polymer dynamics, computer simulation, blockcopolymers and blends, polymer surfaces and interfaces, newtrends in polymer synthesis, complex polymer systems, poly-mers in microelectronics and photonic applications andpolymer rheology and processing. Although some variabilityin quality is inevitable in symposium volumes such as this,several interesting and stimulating items are included here.Particularly notable are Photonic devices for the 21st century(Hadziioannou et al.), T he short time regime of segmentaldynamics of glass-forming polymers (Colmenero and Arbe) andSurface anchored polymer : role in adhesion and friction (Le� ger).The book is produced in camera ready format, and its presen-tation maintains the excellent standard associated with thislong-established series.

D.M. Purbrick

biomaterials applicationsHuman

Edited by D. L. Wise, D. J. Trantolo, D. E. Altobelli, M. J.Yaszeminski and J. D. Gresser.Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 1996.pp. ix] 462, price US$185.00.ISBN 0-89603-337-6

This volume brings together nineteen review articles whichseek to address critical issues pertaining to biocompatiblematerialsÈpolymers, metals and ceramicsÈwhich are used inor on the body. The diversity of this topic is indicated both bythe range of contributions compiled here and by the variety ofbackgrounds represented by their authors, which include purescience, clinical practice, engineering and industrial processcontrol.

The contents are divided into four parts. A highlight of PartI, Biomaterials and Biocompatibility Studies is the lucid andextensive introductory review by Ambrosio, Peluso and Davis.

Part II, Case Studies of Orthopedic Biomaterials consists of sixarticles, of which Bone-inducing factors in osteoinductiveimplants (Takaoka et al.) and Biological response to particulatedebris from non-metallic orthopedic implants (Pappas et al.) areparticularly noteworthy. In Part III, Biomedical Applicationsof Biomaterials, the review by Back and White on Biomaterialsin vascular surgery is outstanding. Part IV, Functional Bio-materials, concludes the book with Ðve contributions, includ-ing Skin repair with cultured cells and biopolymers (Boyce) andRegulation of vascular graft healing by induction of tissueincorporation (Greisler).

Overall, this book is well written and well presented. It isauthoritative and up to date, citing a total of 1900 references,and is recommended for the library of any institution engagedin research on biomaterials and their applications.

D.M. Purbrick

modiÐcation of polymers : matrix and surfaceHeterogeneousreactions

J. Jagur-Grodzinski.John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1997.pp. xi] 266, price £60.00.ISBN 0-471-94287-1

The preparation or modiÐcation of a polymer under hetero-geneous conditions frequently yields a product which di†ersin its structure, properties or reactivity from its counterpartformed in a homogeneous system. Such processes are ofincreasing signiÐcance across a range of technological applica-tions, and the appearance of this monograph is thereforetimely.

The book comprises eight chapters. A brief introduction isfollowed by a review of kinetics and mechanisms pertaining toheterogeneous modiÐcation. The following three chapters aredevoted to the modiÐcation of the bulk of a polymeric matrix.The Ðrst of these surveys the modiÐcation processes availablefor di†erent classes of polymer systems, including polyoleÐns,unsaturated polymers, halogenated polymers and functional-ized resins inter alia. This is followed by a series of speciÐcexamples of bulk modiÐcation and a chapter describing appli-cations of bulk modiÐed polymers, notably in separation pro-cesses, in catalysis and as polymeric reagents. The concludingthree chapters are devoted to surface modiÐcations. The Ðrstof these considers the techniques available for the imaging andcharacterization of modiÐed surfaces. In the penultimate

771998 SCI. Polymer International 0959È8103/98/$17.50 Printed in Great Britain(

78 Book reviews

chapter a variety of surface modiÐcation procedures arereviewed, including plasma etching and grafting and photo-chemically induced grafting. The concluding chapter examinessome applications of surface modiÐed polymers, including bio-materials, microlithography and membranes.

This is a lucid, well organized and carefully produced book,which should prove useful and interesting to a wide audiencewithin the polymer community. 598 references are cited, inaddition to the suggestions for further reading which accom-pany the principal chapters.

D.M. Purbrick

modiÐcation of polymeric biomaterialsSurface

Edited by B. D. Ratner and D. G. Castner.Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York, 1997.pp. viii] 206, price US$85.00.ISBN 0-306-45512-9

Surface modiÐcation is an attractive strategy to adopt inbiomaterials R&D for a variety of reasons. Thus, surfacebiointeractions of a material may be tuned for optimumperformance in a particular environment or application andproperties such as lubricity or corrosion resistance may beenhanced. Furthermore, the ability to derivatize surfaces withbiologically active molecules o†ers the enticing prospect of theprecise control of biointeractions though exploitation ofmolecular and cell biology. Simultaneously, a revolution inself-assembly technology has provided accessible routes to themanufacture of surfaces with order and structure deÐnable ata molecular level, together with the analytical tools for theirstudy. The Surface modiÐcation of polymeric biomaterials there-fore presents an exciting and eclectic agenda which is well rep-resented in this book.

The twenty two articles included in this collection arederived from lectures given at an ACS Polymer Division Sym-posium with the same title, held in April 1995. Following anexcellent but concise introduction by Ratner, Surface modiÐ-cation of polymers for biomedical applications : chemical, bio-logical and surface analytical challenges, the contributions aredivided into Ðve sections. The Ðrst of these, Polymerizationmethods for surface modiÐcation, opens with an account byNagasaki and Kataoka on the Creation of an intelligentsurfaceÈthe design of a reactive surface with stimuli-sensitivitytowards temperature and pH, which describes poly(N-isopro-pylacrylamide) based systems. The following section, Plasmatreated and deposited polymers, describes RF glow dischargeand plasma polymerization processes in addition to the char-acterization of surfaces formed by the latter route. The thirdsection, entitled Characterization of modiÐed surfaces, containsfour articles encompassing a wide range of analytical tech-niques whilst a highlight of the penultimate section, Surfaceimmobilization of biomolecules, is the contribution from Davieset al. on T he self-assembly and inhibition of protein adsorption

by thiolated dextran monolayers at hydrophobic metal surfaces.The Ðfth section, on Protein and cell interactions with modiÐedsurfaces comprises three contributions which o†er a variety ofperspectives on this topic.

This is an engaging and stimulating book with many out-standing contributions which have been carefully edited andwell presented. I recommend it to those with an interest in itssubject area or its component parts.

D.M. Purbrick

electrolytesPolymer

F. M. Gray.Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1997.pp. 175, price £39.50.ISBN 0-85404-557-0

The main driving force behind the current world-wide interestin polymer electrolytes is the prospect of a lithium-based sec-ondary (i.e. rechargeable) battery. Such batteries, and otherelectrical and electronic devices which might function with asolvent-free polymer electrolyte replacing a conventional elec-trolyte, provide the background to the book. Whilst theauthor writes, in the Preface, that the major emphasis of themonograph is intended to be on practical polymer electro-lytes, much of the book is, quite appropriately, devoted to fun-damental science.

There are Ðve chapters, the Ðrst four of which (all curiouslyentitled with a question) deal with the basics. Chapter 1deÐnes the term “polymer electrolyteÏ, includes sections onpreparative techniques and morphology, and introduces thesubject of mechanisms of ion transport which is dealt withmore fully in Chapter 4. Chapter 2, the longest in the book, isdevoted to materials suitable for polymer electrolytes andincludes a short account of the electrolyteÈelectrode interface.The structure of polymer electrolytes, as revealed by varioustechniques, is the subject of Chapter 3.

In Chapter 5 we move to technology. The discussion of theextent of industrial involvement in polymer electrolyteresearch and of the current prospects for commercial exploit-ation makes interesting reading. At the present time, it wouldappear that “smart windowsÏ and electrochromic devices o†erpromising outlets for polymer electrolytes. However, thelithium-based battery showing the most promise now appearsto be based on a multicomponent polymer gel electrolyte,which would suggest that earlier hopes for a high energydensity battery based on a solvent-free system are fading.

Although not comprehensive in character, this book willprovide prospective researchers with a useful and informedintroduction to the Ðeld.

G.G. Cameron

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL VOL. 46, NO. 1, 1998