Polymers are an example of “products-by-process”, where the final product properties are mostly determined during manufacture, in the reactor. An understanding of processes occurring in the polymerization reactor is therefore crucial to achieving efficient, consistent, safe and environmentally friendly production of polymeric materials.

Polymer Reaction Engineering provides the link between the fundamentals of polymerization kinetics and polymer microstructure achieved in the reactor. Organized according to the type of polymerization, each chapter starts with a description of the main polymers produced by the particular method, their key microstructural features and their applications Polymerization kinetics and its effect on reactor configuration, mass and energy balances and scale-up are covered in detail. The text is illustrated with examples emphasizing general concepts, principles and methodology.

Written as an authoritative guide for chemists and chemical engineers in industry and academe, Polymer Reaction Engineering will also be a key reference source for advanced courses in polymer chemistry and technology.

Professor José M. Asua is Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Institute for Polymer Materials (POLYMAT), University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.

Contributors to the book:
Professor María J. Barandiaran
Dr C. P. Cheng
Professor Kyu Yong Choi
Professor José C. De la Cal
Professor Robin A. Hutchinson
Professor Costas Kiparissides
Dr Costas Kotoulas
Professor José R. Leiza
Professor Kimberly B. McAuley
Professor Timothy McKenna
Professor Gregorio R. Meira
Professor Alexander Penlidis
Professor José C. Pinto
Professor João B.P. Soares