Page 6 - Carrahers_Polymer_Chemistry,_Eighth_Edition

Foreword

Polymer science and technology have developed tremendously over the last few decades, and the
production of polymers and plastics products has increased at a remarkable pace. By the end of
2000, nearly 200 million tons per year of plastic materials were produced worldwide (about 2%
of the wood used, and nearly 5% of the oil harvested) to fulfill the ever-growing needs of the plas-

tic age; in the industrialized world plastic materials are used at a rate of early 100 kg per person
per year. Plastic materials with more than $250 billion per year contribute about 4% to the gross
domestic product in the United States. Plastics have no counterpart in other materials in terms of

weight, ease of fabrication, efficient utilization, and economics. It is no wonder that the demand and
the need for teaching in polymer science and technology have increased rapidly. To teach polymer
science, a readable and up-to-date introductory textbook is required that covers the entire fi eld of

polymer science, engineering, technology, and the commercial aspect of the field. This goal has
been achieved in Carraher’s textbook. It is eminently useful for teaching polymer science in depart-
ments of chemistry, chemical engineering, and material science, and also for teaching polymer
science and technology in polymer science institutes, which concentrate entirely on the science and
technologies of polymers.
This eighth edition addresses the important subject of polymer science and technology, with
emphasis on making it understandable to students. The book is ideally suited not only for graduate
courses but also for an undergraduate curriculum. It has not become more voluminous simply by
the addition of information—in each edition less important subjects have been removed and more
important issues introduced. Polymer science and technology is not only a fundamental science but
also important from the industrial and commercial point of view. The author has interwoven dis-
cussion of these subjects with the basics in polymer science and technology. Testimony to the high
acceptance of this book is that early demand required reprinting and updating of each of the previ-

ous editions. We see the result in this new significantly changed and improved edition.
Otto Vogl
Herman F. Mark Professor Emeritus
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts

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