5 54 POLYMER LETTERS

mation of Organoaluminum Compounds” comprises about 80% of the vol- ume (314 pages) and is written by H. Lehmkuhl and K. Ziegler in coopera- tion with H.G. Gellert. The authors can be congratulated on presenting a vast amount of material in an extremely well organized form. The first sec- tion covers syntheses of compounds containing alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, and aryl groups, of compounds containing Al-0 and Al-N bonds as well as of complexes of structure MA&. The following section treats the thermal de- composition of organoaluminum compounds, their ability to add to C=C and C=C bonds (Aufbaureaktionen), their use in reactions with simultaneous elimination of the Al-C bond, and electrochemical reactions. The chapter concludes with an analytical section describing elemental analyses and physi- chemical methods especially useful in ascertaining purity.

As indicated by the general title the tenor is on methods of preparations. For each class of compounds, properties and reaction mechanisms are first discussed in a generalized form and then illustrated by a detailed description of at least one synthetic method being representative for this group of compounds. The references reveal that most of the preparative methods were developed in the laboratory of the authors.

Considering the great importance of organoaluminum compounds in poly- mer chemistry this volume will be of invaluable help for the polymer chemist as a handbook and reference book. In this respect its value is enhanced by 55 tables compiling a wealth of data which are otherwise difficult to find.

A. Schindler

Camille Dreyfus Laboratory Research Triangle Institute Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

Received April 16, 1971

Vinyl and Diene Monomers, Part 2 (High Polymers, Vol. 24), E. C. Leonard, Ed., Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1971. 1202 pp. $37.50

This book is a particularly valuable asset for a company integrated vertical- ly from monomer through polymer manufacturing and processing. Its value to smaller companies is, however, not diminished. It is an excellent source for information ranging from basic resources and monomer manufacturing processes to polymer markets and applications. The safety and hazards of the monomers under consideration are described. Monomer chemistry in re- actions other than polymerizations are covered in detail. Of particular in- trest are the historical discoveries of the polymers from the various monomers discussed: styrene, ethylene, propylene, butene-1 , isobutylene, butadiene,

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isoprene, and chloroprene. The actual polymerizations are only briefly men- tioned, but each monomer is generously endowed with references so that various topics of interest can be more thoroughly investigated if desired. Finally, the contributors to this book have made it easily readable for which this reviewer is grateful. It is believed that many readers who will be study- ing various parts of this book will be equally appreciative of the authors’ research and writing abilities.

Elliott Farber

Tenneco Plastics Division Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Flemington, New Jersey 08822

Received April 1, 197 1

Flow Properties of Polymer Melts, J . A. Brydson, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1971. 190 pp. $10.95

This book outlines in concise form the standard description of polymer flow behavior with emphasis on flow through openings of simple cross sec- tion. It is written mainly for the beginning industrial engineer or rheologist without extensive background or experience in the flow properties of poly- mers.

problems associated with obtaining good rheological data, and the applica- tion of rheological data to solving end-use problems should make this book extremely useful to the inexperienced rheologist .

Chapters 5 and 6 are in some respects the most valuable portions of the book in that they describe in detail phenomena commonly observed in pro- cessing and outline approaches as well as the molecular structure of the polymer.

The detailed derivations of the rheological equations, the emphasis on the

A. B. Finestone

Dart Industries, Inc. Paramus, New Jersey 07652

Received April 30, 1971