Polymeric Materials: Preparation and Properties

Abstract

Chapter 1 is divided into two sections that give the background knowledge of the synthesis of polymers and some of their physical properties. The first section is concerned with fundamental and background aspects of the preparation techniques of synthetic polymeric materials either by the condensation or addition polymerization as well as the chemical modification of synthetic and natural polymeric materials (organic and inorganic). In an attempt to examine the fundamental aspects necessary for the utilization of polymeric materials in the various fields of agriculture and food industry, the second section is devoted to the characterization and explanation of some aspects of polymers properties. These properties of the polymeric materials include their physical forms as linear, branched, and cross-linked polymers (micro- and macroporous, micro- and macroreticular, popcorn and macronet polymers), porosity and surface properties, solvation behavior (swelling and solubility), permeation and diffusion, adhesion, and polymer deterioration and stabilization. In addition, it included the conditions employed during the design of the preparation of the advanced polymeric materials such as reactive functionalized polymers, polymer–inorganic nanocomposites, and smart materials.