Whether you are an upper or graduate level student studying polymer science and engineering or an engineer new to the field of polymers, you'll benefit from reading The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering 3e. Since the publication of the second edition in 1999, the field of polymers has advanced considerably. A key feature of the third edition is the inclusion of new concepts in existing chapters as well as new chapters covering selected contemporary topics such as behavior of natural polymers, polymer nanocomposites and use of polymers in nanotechnology. In addition there are several enhancements to the book's pedagogy, including the addition of numerous worked examples and new figures to better illustrate key concepts, and the addition of a large number of end-of-chapter exercises, many of them based on recently published research and relevant industrial data. Hallmark features: Focuses on applications of polymer chemistry, engineering and technology Explains terminology, applications and versatility of synthetic polymers Connects polymerization chemistry with engineering applications Contains practical lead-ins to emulsion polymerization, viscoelasticity and polymer rheology Features new to the third edition Content has been reorganized to better fit current curriculum and teaching trends in polymer science and engineering Includes new chapters on polymer dynamics, diffusion in polymers, and natural polymers New sections on typical molecular weight distributions, polymer composites and nanocomposites, and metallocene catalysts