Introduction to Polymer Viscoelasticity

Completely revised and updated, the fourth edition of this classic text continues to offer the reader a thorough understanding of viscoelastic behavior, essential for the proper utilization of polymers. Explains principles, corresponding equations, and experimental methods with supporting real-life applications Adds coverage of measurement techniques (nano-indentation, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS)), biopolymer viscoelasticity, and the relationship between mechanical polymer properties and viscoelastic functions Has two new ections to address modern areas of viscoelastic measurement: large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) and microrheology Includes problems in the text and an Instructor’s Manual (including solutions) available for adopting professors Prior edition reviews: «The book is clear written and…[is] appropriate for students in introductory undergraduate courses and for others wanting introduction to the fundamentals of the subject.» (CHOICE, December 2005); «This book is invariably well written, logically organized and easy to follow…I highly recommend this book to anyone studying polymer viscoelasticity.» (Polymer News, December 2005)

An introduction to the rheology of polymers, with simple math Designed for practicing scientists and engineers interested in polymer rheology science, education, consulting, or research and development, Introduction to Polymer Rheology is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the study of the deformation and flow of matter under applied stress. Often considered a complicated topic for beginners, the book makes grasping the fundamentals of polymer rheology easy by presenting information in an approachable way and limiting the use of complex mathematics. By doing so, this introductory overview provides readers with easy access to the key concepts underlying the flow behavior of polymer melts, solutions, and suspensions. Incorporating sample problems that are worked through and explained on the page, as well as numerous practice problems to gauge learning comprehension, the book prepares new students and practitioners for moving on to more advanced concepts. Comprising twelve chapters, the book covers stress, velocity and rate of deformation, the relationship between stress and rate of deformation (Newtonian fluid), generalized Newtonian fluids, normal stresses and elastic behavior, experimental methods, small and large strain, the molecular origins of rheological behavior, elementary polymer processing concepts, quality control in rheology, and the flow of modified polymers and those with supermolecular structure. The essential reference for accurately interpreting polymer rheology data, Introduction to Polymer Rheology provides readers with an elementary understanding of the key issues and modern approaches to resolving problems in the field. An Instructor’s Guide with answers to select problems in the text, 60 new problems with full solutions, hints for effective presentation of the material in the text, and an errata listing is available for professors using the book as a course textbook.

An Updated Edition of the Classic Text Polymers constitute the basis for the plastics, rubber, adhesives, fiber, and coating industries. The Fourth Edition of Introduction to Physical Polymer Science acknowledges the industrial success of polymers and the advancements made in the field while continuing to deliver the comprehensive introduction to polymer science that made its predecessors classic texts. The Fourth Edition continues its coverage of amorphous and crystalline materials, glass transitions, rubber elasticity, and mechanical behavior, and offers updated discussions of polymer blends, composites, and interfaces, as well as such basics as molecular weight determination. Thus, interrelationships among molecular structure, morphology, and mechanical behavior of polymers continue to provide much of the value of the book. Newly introduced topics include: * Nanocomposites, including carbon nanotubes and exfoliated montmorillonite clays * The structure, motions, and functions of DNA and proteins, as well as the interfaces of polymeric biomaterials with living organisms * The glass transition behavior of nano-thin plastic films In addition, new sections have been included on fire retardancy, friction and wear, optical tweezers, and more. Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, Fourth Edition provides both an essential introduction to the field as well as an entry point to the latest research and developments in polymer science and engineering, making it an indispensable text for chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, and polymer science and engineering students and professionals.

Paras Prasad’s text provides a basic knowledge of a broad range of topics so that individuals in all disciplines can rapidly acquire the minimal necessary background for research and development in biophotonics. Introduction to Biophotonics serves as both a textbook for education and training as well as a reference book that aids research and development of those areas integrating light, photonics, and biological systems. Each chapter contains a topic introduction, a review of key data, and description of future directions for technical innovation. Introduction to Biophotonics covers the basic principles of Optics Optical spectroscopy Microscopy Each section also includes illustrated examples and review questions to test and advance the reader’s knowledge. Sections on biosensors and chemosensors, important tools for combating biological and chemical terrorism, will be of particular interest to professionals in toxicology and other environmental disciplines. Introduction to Biophotonics proves a valuable reference for graduate students and researchers in engineering, chemistry, and the life sciences.

INTRODUCTION TO DESALINATION

Explore the principles, methods, and applications of modern desalination processes

Introduction to Desalination: Principles, Processes, and Calculations delivers a comprehensive and robust exploration of desalination highlighted with numerous illustrative examples and calculations.

The book is divided into three sections, the first of which offers an introduction to the topic that includes chapters covering global water scarcity and the need for “new water.” The second section discusses the desalination process, including evaporation, reverse osmosis, crystallization, hybrid systems, and other potable water processes. The final part covers topics that include water conservation, environmental considerations of desalination, economic impacts of desalination, optimization, ethics, and the future of desalination.

The book also includes:

• A comprehensive introduction to desalination, including discussions of engineering principles, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of water, and water chemistry
• An extensive engineering analysis of the various desalination processes
• Practical discussions of miscellaneous desalination topics, including the environmental and economic effects of the technology

Perfect for process, chemical, mechanical, environmental, and civil engineers, Introduction to Desalination: Principles, Processes, and Calculations is also a valuable resource for materials scientists, operators, and technicians working in the field.

Introduction to Pragmatics guides students through traditional and new approaches in the field, focusing particularly on phenomena at the elusive semantics/pragmatics boundary to explore the role of context in linguistic communication. Offers students an accessible introduction and an up-to-date survey of the field, encompassing both established and new approaches to pragmatics Addresses the traditional range of topics – such as implicature, reference, presupposition, and speech acts – as well as newer areas of research, including neo-Gricean theories, Relevance Theory, information structure, inference, and dynamic approaches to meaning Explores the relationship and boundaries between semantics and pragmatics Ideal for students coming to pragmatics for the first time

The revised text to the analysis, control, and applications of robotics The revised and updated third edition of Introduction to Robotics: Analysis, Control, Applications , offers a guide to the fundamentals of robotics, robot components and subsystems and applications. The author—a noted expert on the topic—covers the mechanics and kinematics of serial and parallel robots, both with the Denavit-Hartenberg approach as well as screw-based mechanics. In addition, the text contains information on microprocessor applications, control systems, vision systems, sensors, and actuators. Introduction to Robotics gives engineering students and practicing engineers the information needed to design a robot, to integrate a robot in appropriate applications, or to analyze a robot. The updated third edition contains many new subjects and the content has been streamlined throughout the text. The new edition includes two completely new chapters on screw-based mechanics and parallel robots. The book is filled with many new illustrative examples and includes homework problems designed to enhance learning. This important text: Offers a revised and updated guide to the fundamental of robotics Contains information on robot components, robot characteristics, robot languages, and robotic applications Covers the kinematics of serial robots with Denavit-Hartenberg methodology and screw-based mechanics Includes the fundamentals of control engineering, including analysis and design tools Discusses kinematics of parallel robots Written for students of engineering as well as practicing engineers , Introduction to Robotics, Third Edition reviews the basics of robotics, robot components and subsystems, applications, and has been revised to include the most recent developments in the field.

A fully updated version of the popular Introduction to Tribology, the second edition of this leading tribology text introduces the major developments in the understanding and interpretation of friction, wear and lubrication. Considerations of friction and wear have been fully revised to include recent analysis and data work, and friction mechanisms have been reappraised in light of current developments. In this edition, the breakthroughs in tribology at the nano- and micro- level as well as recent developments in nanotechnology and magnetic storage technologies are introduced. A new chapter on the emerging field of green tribology and biomimetics is included. Introduces the topic of tribology from a mechanical engineering, mechanics and materials science points of view Newly updated chapter covers both the underlying theory and the current applications of tribology to industry Updated write-up on nanotribology and nanotechnology and introduction of a new chapter on green tribology and biomimetics

One book dealing with the fundamentals of thermal and membrane desalination systems and discussing their economical as well as environmental aspects.

With a growing population, climate change and greater water demand, desalination has increasingly become a part of the solution to regional water scarcity – seawater desalination capacity has roughly doubled in the past ten years. Desalination has also begun to receive more attention in academia, with research focusing on improving energy efficiency and system robustness and lowering capital costs.

With this book, an introduction is given to the basics and fundamentals of desalination systems. Both, thermal and membrane desalination systems, are covered and discussed in view of energy, exergy, economic and environmental aspects. In the beginning, Introduction to Desalination: Systems, Processes and Environmental Impacts describes multi effect evaporation, vapor compression and multi-stage flashing. Further chapters deal with common membrane-based separations like reverse osmosis and membrane filtration, forward osmosis, diffusion dialysis and pervaporation as well as thermo-osmosis, electrodialysis and electrodeionization. Subsequently, hybrid systems are discussed, and the economic analysis of such systems and their environmental impact are highlighted. Each chapter contains theoretical and practical examples and concludes with questions and problems for self-study.

* Needed: Desalination has become a part of the solution to regional water scarcity and an introductory book in this field is urgently needed.

* Balanced Approach: Presents the fundamentals of thermal and membrane desalination systems.

* Learning Material: Each chapter includes exercises for self-study and Instructors can find teaching material online.

Introduction to Desalination: Systems, Processes and Environmental Impacts is an important resource for master's students in engineering sciences, lecturers in chemical and mechanical engineering, engineers, environmental chemists, as well as process engineers, engineering scientists in industry, and environmental consultants.

Introduction to Securitization outlines the basics of securitization, addressing applications for this technology to mortgages, collateralized debt obligations, future flows, credit cards, and auto loans. The authors present a comprehensive overview of the topic based on the experience they have gathered through years of interaction with practitioners and graduate students around the world. The authors offer coverage of such key topics as: structuring agency MBS deals and nonagency deals, credit enhancements and sizing, using interest rate derivatives in securitization transactions, asset classes securitized, operational risk factors, implications for financial markets, and applying securitization technology to CDOs. Finally, in the appendices, the authors provide an essential introduction to credit derivatives, an explanation of the methodology for the valuation of MBS/ABS, and the estimation of interest rate risk. Securitization is a financial technique that pools assets together and, in effect, turns them into a tradable security. The end result of a securitization transaction is that a corporation can obtain proceeds by selling assets and not borrowing funds. In real life, many securitization structures are quite complex and enigmatic for practitioners, investors, and finance students. Typically, books detailing this topic are either too lengthy, too technical, or too superficial in their presentation. Introduction to Securitization is the first to offer essential information on this topic at a fundamental, yet comprehensive level-providing readers with a working understanding of what has become one of today's most important areas of finance. Authors Frank Fabozzi and Vinod Kothari, internationally recognized experts in the field, clearly define securitization, contrast it with corporate finance, and explain its advantages. They carefully illustrate the structuring of asset-backed securities (ABS) transactions, including agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) deals and nonagency deals, and show the use of credit enhancements and interest rate derivatives in such transactions. They review the collateral classes in ABS, such as retail loans, credit cards, and future flows, and discuss ongoing funding vehicles such as asset-backed commercial paper conduits and other structured vehicles. And they explain the different types of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and structured credit, detailing their structuring and analysis. To complement the discussion, an introduction to credit derivatives is also provided. The authors conclude with a close look at securitization's impact on the financial markets and the economy, with a review of the now well-documented problems of the securitization of one asset class: subprime mortgages. While questions about the contribution of securitization have been tainted by the subprime mortgage crisis, it remains an important process for corporations, municipalities, and government entities seeking funding. The significance of this financial innovation is that it has been an important form of raising capital for corporations and government entities throughout the world, as well as a vehicle for risk management. Introduction to Securitization offers practitioners and students a simple and comprehensive entry into the interesting world of securitization and structured credit.