Book excerpt: Concise Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia culls the most used, widely applicable articles from the Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia - more than 1,100 - and presents them to you in a condensed, well-ordered format. Featuring contributions from more than 1,800 scientists from all over the world, the book discusses a vast array of subjects related to the: synthesis, properties, and applications of polymeric materials development of modern catalysts in preparing new or modified polymers modification of existing polymers by chemical and physical processes biologically oriented polymers This comprehensive, easy-to-use resource on modern polymeric materials serves as an invaluable addition to reference collections in the polymer field.