Book excerpt: Epoxy resins have been commercially available for about 45 years and now have many major industrial applications, especially where technical advantages warrant their somewhat higher costs. The chemistry of these resins is fascinating and has attracted study by many very able scientists. The technological applications of the epoxy resins are very demanding and there are many new developments each year. The aims of the present book are to present in a compact form both theoretical and practical information that will assist in the study, research and innovations in the field of epoxy resin science and technology. The literature on epoxy resins is so vast that it is not possible to be encyclopaedic and that is not the function of the present text. It is the editor's hope that the selection of topics discussed will provide an up-to-date survey. There is some overlap in the chapters but this is minimal and so each chapter is essentially self contained. As with all chemicals there are toxicological and other hazards. These are not dealt with in this text since a little knowledge can be dangerous, but material supplied can provide information regarding any safety precautions that may be necessary. However, often these precautions are not onerous and epoxy resins, or more specifically the hardeners, can be handled readily. It is hoped that this text will provide an up-to-date outline of the science and technology of epoxy resins and stimulate further research into unsolved problems and assist further technological developments.