Control polymer thermal expansion from fundamental principles to reduction technologies
 
Dimensional instability caused by thermal expansion remains a persistent challenge in polymer applications across automotive, packaging, and electronics industries. Thermal Expansion of Polymers: Fundamentals, Measurement, and Technologies provides a systematic treatment of the underlying mechanisms, measurement techniques, and advanced reduction methods. Written by Michio Ono, who brings more than 30 years of dedicated polymer research, this reference connects theory directly to implementable solutions.
 
The book details both established and emerging measurement approaches, including positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation techniques for characterizing thermal expansion behavior. Coverage spans the molecular-level mechanisms driving expansion in polymers, standardized testing methods, and reduction technologies applicable to industrial processing. Practical examples illustrate how these methods address dimensional control problems in real manufacturing environments.
 
Readers will also find:
 
* Fundamental principles governing thermal expansion behavior across different polymer types, including detailed treatment of polyolefin systems
* Emerging measurement technologies such as positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation applied to polymer characterization
* Reduction strategies for controlling dimensional change in automotive, packaging, and electronics polymer components
* Molecular-level explanations linking polymer structure and morphology to observed coefficients of thermal expansion
* Practical examples demonstrating direct industrial implementation of thermal expansion control methods in manufacturing processes
 
Polymer chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, and process engineers working on dimensional stability challenges will find this reference directly applicable to their work. Research institutes focused on polymer characterization and thermal analysis will benefit from its systematic coverage of both established and emerging measurement and reduction methodologies.

CHAPTER 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF POLYMER
1.1 What is Polymer?
1.2 Polymer ABC, Alloy, Blend and Composite
 
CHAPTER 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF THERMAL EXPANSION
2.1 Definition of Thermal Expansion
2.2 Mechanism of Thermal Expansion of Material in a solid, liquid and gas state
2.3 Mechanism of Thermal Expansion of Polymer
2.4 Phenomenon that occurs when two materials with different thermal expansions are combined
 
CHAPTER 3: THERMAL EXPANSION THEORY OF CRYSTAL AXIS IN CRYSTAL LATTICE OF CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS:
3.1 Linear Chain Model
3.2 Self-Consistent Harmonic Approximation
3.3 String-in-Medium Model
 
CHAPTER 4 MEASUREMENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION
4.1 Measurement of Bulk Coefficient of Volume Thermal Expansion (CVTE)
4.2 Measurement of Bulk Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE) by Thermo-mechanical Analyzer (TMA):
4.3 Emerging Technologies of Evaluation of Thermal Expansion
 
CHAPTER 5 COMPOSITE THEORY OF THERMAL EXPANSION
5.1 General Review of Theories of Thermal Expansion of Polymer Composites
5.2 Thermal Expansion Theory by Schapery
5.3 Wang-Kwei Model for Polymer Composites containing Spherical Inclusions
5.4 Spherical Shell for Polymer Blends with Layered Shells by Model by Manabe and Takayanagi
5.5 Chow model for the Linear and Volume Thermal Expansion Coefficients of the Polymer Composite with Ellipsoidal Inclusions:
5.6 Mori-Tanaka Theory to Accommodate Polymer Composites with Versatile Shapes of Fillers:
 
CHAPTER 6 REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES OF THERMAL EXPANSION
6.1 Reduction of Thermal Expansion by Fillers
6.2 Reduction of Thermal Expansion by Introducing Rigid Structure into Polymer Backbone
6.3 Reduction of Thermal Expansion by Oriented Molecules
6.4 Reduction of Thermal Expansion by Elastomers