By
P. Alexandridis, Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA
B. Lindman, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, S-22100 Lund, Sweden
Description
It is the belief of the editors of this book that the recognition of block copolymers as being amphiphilic molecules and sharing common
features with other well-studied amphiphiles will prove beneficial to both the surfactant and the polymer communities. An aim of this
book is to bridge the two communities and cross-fertilise the different fields. To this end, leading researchers in the field of amphiphilic
block copolymer self-assembly, some having a background in surfactant chemistry, and others with polymer physics roots, have agreed to
join forces and contribute to this book.
The book consists of four entities. The first part discusses theoretical considerations
behind the block copolymer self-assembly in solution and in the melt. The second part provides case studies of self-assembly in different
classes of block copolymers (e.g., polyethers, polyelectrolytes) and in different environments (e.g., in water, in non-aqueous solvents,
or in the absence of solvents). The third part presents experimental tools, ranging from static (e.g., small angle neutron scattering)
to dynamic (e.g., rheology), which can prove valuable in the characterization of block copolymer self-assemblies. The fourth part offers
a sampling of current applications of block copolymers in, e.g., formulations, pharmaceutics, and separations, applications which are
based on the unique self-assembly properties of block copolymers.
Audience:
For researchers interested in surfactants and polymers and their interrelations
