Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science from CRC Press

Nov. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Soft materials such as liquid crystals, polymers, biomaterials, and colloidal systems touch every aspect of our lives. Not surprisingly, the rapid growth of these fields over the past few decades has resulted in an explosion of soft matter research groups worldwide. Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science introduces and explores the scientific study of soft matter and molecular self-assembly, covering the major classifications of materials, their structure and characteristics, and everyday applications.

Designed for beginners to the field with a basic scientific background, this readable book emphasizes conceptual understanding, minimizing detailed mathematical derivations. Each chapter is dedicated to a different group of soft materials, including liquid crystals, surfactants, polymers, colloids, and soft biomaterials. Each subject is broken down into the essential concepts: material structures and physical characteristics, some simple theoretical ideas, and important experimental methods. The book emphasizes commonly used experimental techniques and practical applications. Full color illustrations and photographs are incorporated throughout to help describe the systems and key concepts.

Praise

A nicely structured book that is at the right level for undergraduates. I’ll recommend it for our soft matter course and to others.
—Professor Helen F. Gleeson, University of Manchester

Broader in coverage than existing texts … a very good introduction to the field of soft matter.
—Professor Gary Bryant, RMIT University, Melbourne

About the Author

Linda S. Hirst, Ph.D., is a professor of physics at the University of California, Merced, where she runs a soft matter experimental research group and teaches introductory physics and condensed matter physics.

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http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439827758

ISBN 9781439827758, November 2012, 246 pp