Polyesters are one of the most important class of polymers in use today. Hundreds of polyesters exist although only about a dozen are of commercial significance. Polyesters are ubiquitous materials in modern life and are used in diverse applications from drink bottles and photographic film to shirts and fabrics. This book serves as a comprehensive, up-to-date reference and includes the following sections:
* Historical development

* Polymerization & polycondensation

* Polyester types

* Fibers, compounds and modifying additives

* Depolymerization & degradation

* Liquid crystal polyesters

* Unsaturated polyesters
Comprehensive coverage of polyester resins with an emphasis on their structure-property relationships is provided. Polyester types covered in detail include: PET, PET copolymers, PCT, PCTG, PCTA, PBT, PEN, PTT, cyclic polyester oligomers, LCP and UP's. The latest advances in polyesters are described along with current and emerging application areas.

This work contains more than 20 contributions with experts from both academia and industry from North America, Europe, the Far East and Australia.

An essential book for plastics engineers, polymer chemists, material scientists and those working in the plastics manufacturing and processing industries that deal with polyester resins.