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.

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.