Preface, Dedication - ACS Symposium Series (ACS Publications)

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Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 4, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 5, 1996 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1996-0620.pr001

Preface CONSISTENTINTERESTINUNDERSTANDINGthe fundamental aspects of radiation effects in polymers and the growing importance of high-energy radiations as a critical means in the production of electronic components and biomedical devices justified an update of this area of strategic tech­ nology since our 1991 book, Radiation Effects on Polymers, A C S Sympo­ sium Series 475. About two-thirds of the chapters in this book are based on an A C S symposium and are written by participants whose diverse expertise covers a vast area of traditional and less traditional radiationrelated technologies. The remaining book chapters were solicited from distinguished experts in the field to further enhance the comprehensive­ ness of this volume and to underscore the important role of radiation in electronics and sterilization. Many of the chapters were designed to pro­ vide the reader with a brief review of major progress in particular seg­ ments of the field, along with the most current research results. Thus, scientists and engineers with interest in polymers and radiation technol­ ogy are given a wide range of valuable information in a single volume. The first section of the book presents a brief review of current under­ standing of radiation effects in polymers, mechanisms of pertinent events (such as charge transport and photoionization), and typical and atypical responses and changes in properties of homochain [e.g., ultrahighmolecular-weight polyethylene ( U H M W - P E ) and polybutene-1] and heterochain (e.g., polyhydroxybutyrate) polymers. Sophisticated computa­ tional and analytical methods have been used successfully in modeling and monitoring radiation events as evidenced in the second section of the book. Discussions in this section pertain to network formation, chain scission, and end-group determination. The significance of radiation processing and the growing interest in radiation as an effective means of sterilization in the biomedical, pharma­ ceutical, and food industries are reflected in the third section of the book. Four of the chapters are dedicated to sterilization, including a chapter on the first report of a novel radiochemical sterilization process for medical devices. Other chapters cover the use of radiation in solid-state and thin-film polymerization; preparation of cross-linked pharmaceutically useful gels; and development of interpenetrating polymeric systems, fiber-reinforced composites, and improved synthetic rubbers.

xi Clough and Shalaby; Irradiation of Polymers ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1996.

Although most of the fourth section is dedicated to traditional topics pertinent to stability and stabilization, contemporary topics of growing significance are also addressed. These entail the effect of radiation on U H M W - P E for its significant biomedical role in prosthetic implants and on organic insulators for their critical use in fusion reactors. To under­ score the importance of radiation technology in the electronics industry, advances in the use of radiation in lithography are given in the final sec­ tion of the book. These chapters deal with photosensitive metathesis polymers, chemical amplification, and dry-develop resist technology.

Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 4, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 5, 1996 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1996-0620.pr001

Acknowledgments To all authors who contributed to this book and to those who partici­ pated in the symposium, we express our sincere appreciation. Thanks are also due to those who assisted us in organizing or chairing the sympo­ sium, particularly K . Gillen, D . Hill, V . Markovic, A . Pla, J. Silverman, and G . Taylor. For his initial efforts in co-organizing the symposium and for being an outstanding polymer scientist, good friend, and valuable col­ league, we dedicate this book to J. O'Donnell, who passed away recently. We also express our appreciation to the A C S Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc., for sponsoring the symposium. We thank A . Wilson and M . Althuis of A C S Books and K. Burg, a bioengineering graduate student at Clemson University, for their conscientious efforts to ensure a timely review and editing of the book.

ROGER L. CLOUGH Organic Materials Division Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque, NM 87185

SHALABY W. SHALABY Poly-Med, Inc. 6309 Highway 187 Anderson, SC 29625 November 13, 1995

xii Clough and Shalaby; Irradiation of Polymers ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1996.

Dedication

Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 4, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: May 5, 1996 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1996-0620.pr001

THISBOOKISDEDICATEDto

James O'Donnell, former professor at the University of Queensland, Australia, for his valuable contributions to the field of polymers and radiation technology and for guidance to his world­ wide colleagues during the past three decades. The global polymer com­ munity will certainly miss his leadership in cementing an international bond among scientists and engineers of many professional interests.

xiii Clough and Shalaby; Irradiation of Polymers ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1996.