Polymers and the Environment [Paperback]

As environmental performance becomes increasingly important, the development of man-made polymers and their associated benefits has been overshadowed by problems relating to their ultimate disposal. In the light of wider acceptance of polymers for use in high technology applications, Polymers and the Environment aims to redress the balance. The book reviews the properties and industrial applications of polymers and discusses their environmental benefits compared with traditional materials. It also addresses the issues of polymer durability, recycling processes to aid waste minimization and biodegradable polymers. This text is intended to introduce the non-specialist reader to the benefits and limitations of polymeric materials from an environmental viewpoint, and will prove a useful book for both students and professionals.Polymers in Modern Life; Environmental Impact of Polymers; Environmental Stability of Polymers; Management of Polymer Wastes; Biodegradable Polymers; Further Reading; Subject Index.This text is intended to introduce the non-specialist reader to the benefits and limitations of polymeric materials from an environmental viewpoint. The volume, presenting polymers as materials indispensable for human civilization provides useful information for all those researching and working in the field of polymers and environmental protection.