Layout of the Book

The theme of the twelve chapters which comprise this book is information which can be used for designing a fibre composite article or structure. The data cover a wide range. There is information on the short- and long-term thermomechanical and electrical properties and behaviour of fibre-reinforced polymer composites, plus their response to fire and environmental effects. Finally the influence of processing on properties and the quality assurance of the final product are also considered. 

The data included in this text on several specialized types of composite are rather limited. These (mainly thermosetting matrix) systems include those based on aligned short fibres, hybrids consisting of two or more types of fibre in a common matrix and sandwich structures consisting of a light-weight core and composite skins. These systems either have relatively low properties or such a range of possible constitutions as to make it difficult to find representative structures. Nevertheless, they are widely used in many areas, often because of their ease of fabrication. 

Properties of typical thermosetting and thermoplastic polymer matrices and single fibres are listed. The former have relevance to the upper working temperature and off-axis properties of the composite, while the latter can be used to estimate composite strength and stiffness parallel to the fibre direction. 

Finally, the really important topics of fabrication and quality assurance of the product are addressed. As was stated earlier, the composite materials and structures are often fabricated at the same time, so the fabrication process and the skill with which it is executed can make or break the design work. While this is true to some extent for all materials, it is much more important for composites. Allied to this is the topic of quality 

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A few comments on the layout of the book. Definitions or common phrases are marked in italic, these can be found in the index. Underline is used for emphasizing important points. Operators, vectors and matrices are denoted in bold, scalars in normal text. Although I have tried to keep the notation as consistent as possible, different branches in computational chemistry often use different symbols for the same quantity. In order to comply with common usage, I have elected sometimes to switch notation between chapters. The second derivative of the energy, for example, is called the force constant k in force field theory, the corresponding matrix is denoted F when discussing vibrations, and called the Hessian H for optimization purposes. 

Substantial changes have also been made in the layout of the book in particular, new sections have been added describing the textural and structural particulars of the BIF, the chemical composition of the rocks and minerals and their stability in the face of granitization. We considered it advisable to give an appendix summarizing the thermodynamic values used in the calculations, with briefly stated reasons for choosing them (for the... 

In compiling this data, the philosophy of Plastics Design Library is to provide as much information as is available. This means that complete information for each test is provided. At the same time, an effort is made to provide information for as many exposure environment and plastic combinations as possible. Therefore, even if detailed test results are not available (i.e. the only information available is that a material is resistant or has limited resistance), information is still provided. The belief is that some limited information serves as a reference point and is better than no information. Flexibility and ease of use were also carefully considered in designing the layout of the book. As a result, you ll find this reference publication to be a valuable resource and an asset in your work. 

The first item to discuss is the general layout of the book, it has been divided into several sections in order to make it easier to find specific information. These sections are listed in the table of contents. Each section is then organized in alphabetical order for example, if you want to find information on nitrocellulose, turn to the section entitled "Descriptions and Manufacturing of Explosives." There you will find all of the explosives presented in alphabetical order. 

In the interest of lucidity, we have taken certain liberties in the layout of the book. For example, text in quotation marks associated with a scientist may not be verbatim quotes, but rather, a simplified presentation of the idea. Readers can follow up this book with more academically rigorous works like The Historical Background of Chemistry by Henry M. Leicester. 

Science has traditionally been valued for its clarity of writing, its scientific accuracy and currency, its strong end-of-chapter exercises, and its consistency in level of coverage. In making changes, we have made sure not to compromise these characteristics, and we have also continued to employ an open, clean design in the layout of the book. 

The layout of the book has been determined by the series format and by the requirements of the overall analytical process. Regardless of the disdpttne from which the need for chemical analysis arises, common questions must be asked ... 

The layout of the book aims at making the study an active process. Prom experience, parts of the explained text may appear to be somewhat abstract - perhap>s even recondite - until successfully applied to one s own specific problems and practical examples. In its layout and treatment of subjects the book reflects this philosophy of learning. 

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