The Physics of Polymers presents the elements of this important segment of material science, focusing on concepts above experimental techniques and theoretical methods. Written for graduate students of physics, material science and chemical engineering and for researchers working with polymers in academia and industry, the book introduces and discusses the basic phenomena which lead to the peculiar physical properties of polymeric systems. The revised and expanded Third Edition includes a new chapter dealing with conjugated polymers, explaining the physical basis of the characteristic electro-optic response, and the spectacular electrical conduction properties of conjugated polymers created by doping.

However, this is not a book for a beginner who wants to gain a little familiarity of the subject without serious study (not like, say, Saleh and Teich's optics book, where one can pick a topic and learn a little about it). When he decides to delve into theory the derivations can only be understood by sitting down and going through them by hand. It's not that steps are skipped or any other such atrocious practice, but simply that this is a book for people working hard to understand and join the field, not outsiders who want to gain some familiarity with it.

So, I'd say it's meaty but understandable for beginners who are serious about studying polymer physics, but not for people like me who encounter polymers from time to time and would like to gain a passing familiarity with the field. Also, it seems like a good reference even for experts, with the wealth of figures and charts and numbers and derivations.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


A comprehensive polymer physics book!  Jan 02, 2003 By Vivek Sharma "Kavi"
This is a comprehensive polymer physics book, each chapter is well written with adequate depth of coverage. Most definitely the book one must pick to delve into dynamics, thermodynamics, scattering and crystallization, and get to the level of appreciating the complexity and beauty of current research and understanding in the field of polymer physics. Highly recommended!


Quite helpful, even to a thirteen year old  Sep 25, 2011 By RyleighC
During my study of polymers, have found this quite helpful. It introduces a great insight, that, I a thirteen year old, appreciate. This has been quite an enjoyable read and I hope to enjoy more of his work as well. I commend Gert R. Strobi for accomplishing the task of writing in what some refer to as a complex subject.