Water Soluble Poly-N-Vinylamides

Despite the growing interest in this new generation of water soluble carbon-chain polymers, there are few books available covering their physicochemical properties. Professor Kirsh has addressed this by writing a book which brings together data on their synthesis, properties and applications. The best known of the group is poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP), discovered in Germany in 1939, hence this book concentrates on PVP and the correlation of its properties with other poly-N-vinylamides. Poly-N-vinylamides are widely used in the creation of many synthetic polymeric materials and recent discoveries have increased their use in medicine and biotechnology. This book will therefore appeal to a wide readership from polymer and materials scientists, through to biotechnologists and those working in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Preface vii
Introduction 1
1 N-vinylamides: Synthesis, Conformation, and Electronic State 3
2 Radical Polymerization 36
3 Solvation (Hydration) and Conformational Transformations of Macromolecules in Solution 81
4 Complex Formation of Macromolecules in Aqueous Solution 129
5 Reactions in Poly-N-vinylamide Chains 186
References 216
Index 229