216 Book reviews

the assistance of the Hoechst organisation in providing back- ground information on processes, markets and applications of a wide range of industrial organic chemicals.

The text originally appeared in 1978: this edition is greatly revised, with increased emphasis on developments outside western Europe. Really, the economics of the petrochemical industry move too rapidly for any printed book, but this text, whilst less than perfect in detail (it has more minor typo- graphical and other errors than would be wished) is an excel- lent summary and a useful background for those interested in, or learning about, all major and many minor aspects of the industrial organic chemical industry.

C. A. Finch

Macromolecular symposia-New macromolecular architec-

Edited by V. Pecec and D. A. Tirrell. Hiithig & Wepf Verlag, Basle, 1994. pp. xiii + 421, price SFr140.00, DM155.00, US$108.00.

This Volume of the Macromolecular Symposia series contains a selection of papers given at the International Symposium on New Molecular Architectures and Supramolecular Polymers, sponsored by the Polymer Chemistry Division of the Amer- ican Chemical Society, which was held in 1993 in Denver.

It contains 40 selected papers on the molecular design of macromolecules such as macrocycles, rotaxanes, dendrimers and block and graft copolymers. The full programme consist- ed of 64 invited lectures plus posters. Clearly, this is too large a number to comment on individually in a short review.

The book contains papers from all seven sub-sections of the meeting, dendrimers, rotaxanes and macrocycles, nanoarchi- tecture, molecular recognition, liquid crystals, n-conjugated and high carbon content systems and blocks, grafts and net- works. Seven papers on dendrimers include a variety of poly- mers such as aramids, polyaryl ethers and polypropylenimine, followed by five papers on rotaxanes and macrocycles. There are three papers on nanoarchitecture and nine on topics in the molecular recognition field. The section on liquid crystals also contains nine papers. The final two sections, n-conjugated and high carbon content systems and blocks, grafts and networks, have four and three papers, respectively.

This is clearly a rather specialist volume, which would have been significantly improved by an introductory chapter reviewing current work in this rather broad but increasingly active field.

D. J. Hourston

tures, VOl. 77

ISBN 3-85739-274-6

Macromolecular symposia-Pol ymer blends, Vol. 78 Edited by R. Greco and E. Martincelli Hiithig & Wepf Verlag, Basle, 1994. pp. xi + 324, price SFr120.00, DM133.00, US$93.00.

This is a collection of papers presented at the 4th European Symposium on Polymer Blends held in Capri in 1993. The 24 camera-ready contributions represent most of the main and the invited lectures, and a few of the posters out of the 110

ISBN 3-85739-275-4

presentations made at that meeting. The five sections are pre- served in the proceedings published here: Theories of misci- bility, modelling and phase behaviour; Characterization of phase structure and interfaces; Molecular aspects-physical property relationships; New methods of blend preparation and processing; Problems and perspectives of blend applica- tions. The first two of these are introduced by overviews, Koningsveld on thermodynamics of polymer blends and Paul on polymer-polymer interactions. The remaining sections lack such an overview and are collections of related contributions to the subject. While most of the contributions in Sections 2 to 5 can be categorized as research contributions relating to particular polymer mixtures, those in Section 1 are much more general in their outlook, and between them, Cowie on the effects of molecular structure, Freed on the lattice cluster theory and Kammer on the coupling of blend thermodyna- mics with crystallization or rheology, introduce some of the new ideas in current thinking on the statistical thermodyna- mics of polymer mixtures. In this same section, Kuleznev and Wessling suggest alternative mechanisms to explain some of the common observations on blends and mixtures. While not necessarily agreeing with their deliberately provocative sug- gestions, the reader may obtain a new insight into old data. Overall, despite the interest of the first section, this remains essentially a collection of presentations of ongoing research. As such it belongs on the library shelves and not in the oflice or laboratory. I would certainly wish to have it available in any library supporting polymer blend research.

J. S. Higgins

Chemical technology in printing and imaging systems Edited by J. A. G. Drake. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1993. pp. viii + 188, price f39.50.

This volume comprises the proceedings of a symposium held by the North East Region Industrial Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry at York in 1992. The opening chapter, Future Trends in Printing, emphasises both the challenges and opportunities presented to printing by electronic and digital media and processes. Environmental Management of Processing Solutions and Environmental Aspects of Solvent Use in Printing, illustrate the high priority given to pollution prevention in the industry, as does The Recycler Generation, which examines strategies and related legislation pertaining to the fate of waste ink.

There are 14 chapters of varied length and style. These include four useful reviews-Direct to Plate Systems in Litho- graphic Printing, Recent Developments in Negative Litho- graphic Plate Technology, General Aspects of Organic Pigment Technology and Control of the Physical Character and Performance of Organic Pigments for Inks-which account for the majority of the 117 references cited.

The presentation of text and figures are of high standard. In the range of topics it covers, and in the manner of their treat- ment, this is a satisfying book, which I would recommend to those whose interests lie in or around printing.

M. D. Purbrick

ISBN 0-85186-655-7

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL VOL. 35, NO. 2. 1994