Polymers at Interfaces

This book is concerned with the configuration of polymers at the interfacial zone between two other phases or immiscible components. In recent years, developments in technology combined with increased attention from specialists in a wide range of fields have resulted in a considerable increase in our understanding of the behavior of polymers at interfaces. Inevitably these advances have generated a wealth of literature and although there have been numerous reviews, a critical treatment with adequate descriptions of both theory and experiment, including detailed analysis of the two, has been missing. This text hopes to fill this gap, providing a timely and comprehensive account of the field as it stands today. This long needed work will be invaluable to experts as well as newcomers in the broad field of polymers, interfaces and colloids, both in industry and academia. Whilst industrial laboratories involved in this field will find it indispensable, it will be equally important to anyone with an interest in interfacial polymer or colloidal research.

Preface. Polymers in solution. General features of polymers at interfaces. Experimental methods. Theoretical methods. Homopolymer adsorption. Adsorption of copolymers. Electrostatic effects: charged surfaces and polyelectrolyte adsorption. Terminally-attached chains. Fluid interfaces. Depletion. Interactions in the presence of polymers. Appendices. Glossary of symbols. Key word index.