Book excerpt: This 24th volume continues in the tradition of its predecessors, presenting authoritative, interdisciplinary coverage of contemporary topics in the field of carbon chemistry and physics. With contributions by leading international experts, this volume: describes pitch polymerization kinetics during mesophase formation and the constitution of coexisting phases in mesophase pitch during heat treatment; elucidates the mechanism of mesophase formation and pitch polymerization kinetics after mesophase formation; examines the importance of physical, solid-state, electro- and analytical chemistry in the study of carbon surfaces; discusses the theoretical background for the thermal conductivity of diamonds, single crystal diamonds and chemically-vapour-deposited diamond films; and explains the chemistry involved in the commercial fabrication and use of needle coke.