Polymer Research in Microgravity
Polymerization and Processing
ACS Symposium Series, Vol. No. 793

Sixteen papers examine how gravity can affect polymerizations and polymer processing and how weightlessness or "microgravity" is achieved. The volume reviews the current research from sounding rocket and orbital investigations, parabolic flight investigations, and ground-based research. Also covered are inorganic to biologically produced polymers, including free-radical polymerization, polymer-dispersed luquid crystals and foams.

Preface, Part 1: Background. 1: Polymer Processing in Microgravity: An Overview, 2: Research Platforms That Reduce the Acceleration Experienced in the Experimental Frame of Reference: Achieving "Microgravity", Part 2: Sounding Rocket and Orbital Investigations. 3: The Role of Gravity in Sol-Gel Systems, 4: Growth Kinetics of Polydiacetylene Films Prepared in Microgravity, 5: Polymerization in Microgravity On-Board STS-57, STS-63 and STS-77, 6: Production of Polyurethane Foams in Space: Graviational and Vacuum Effects on Foam Formation, 7: Gel Formation under Microgravity Conditions, Part 3: Parabolic Flight Investigations. 8: Bubble Behaviour in Frontal Polymerization: Results from KC-135 Parabolic Flights, 9: Instrumentation for Studying Polymer Film Formation in Low Gravity, 10: Liquid Crystal and Polymer Dispersions in a Microgravity Environment, 11: Processing on Nonlinear Optical Polymer Systems under Microgravity Conditions, Part 4: Ground.Based Research, 12: Foaming of Polyethylenes in a Dynamic Decompression and Cooling Process, 13: Prospects for the Study of Gas-Phase Polymerization and the Synthesis of Polymers Containing Nanoparticles in Microgravity, 14: Production of Bacterial Polyesters in Simulated Microgravity, 15: Development of Impedance Spectroscopy to Study Polymerization Processes in Microgravity, 16: Gravity Effects during Mold Filling: Fluid Front Dynamics, Author Index, Subject Index