This book is an update to an “authorless” work of the
same title, published in 1990. A lot has changed in the
fi eld since 1990 and a lot has not changed. There are
new plastic materials. There has been a huge turnover in
ownership of the plastic producing companies. There
has been a lot of consolidation, which of course means
discontinued products. Thus, this update is much more
extensive than the usual “next edition.”
It has been reorganized from a chemistry point of
view. Plastics of similar polymer types are grouped
into nine chapters. Each of these chapters includes an
introduction with a brief explanation of the chemistry
of the polymers used in the plastics.
An extensive fi rst chapter had been added. It is an
introductory chapter that summarizes the chemistry
of making polymers, the formulation of plastics, testing
and test methods, and plastic selection.