BOOK REVIEWS 51

active and stereospecific catalysts, which eliminated the post-polymerization steps of catalyst and atactic PP extraction; the third-generation particulate catalysts that result in polymer beads, making the postpolymerization step of pelletizing unneces- sary; and the fourth-generation catalysts that allow the tailoring of molecular weight distribution at will.

In the fir& chapter of his book, Kissin deals with the kinetic scheme of olefin homo- and copolymerization; in his second chapter, he describes the formation and function- ing of active centers; and in his third chapter, he discusses the stereospecificity of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Kissin concludes his book with a fourth chapter covering the distribution of active centers of varying degrees of stereospecificity, the molecular weight distribution of polyolefins, and the compositional inhomogeneity of olefin copolymers.

Y. V. Kissin has to be congradulated for having explained to us the polymerization mechanism in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalysts and the olefin insertion into the coordination metal-carbon bond. His book can be highly recommended to industrial and academic scientists and students who are concerned with the vast field of polyolefin manufacture.

Dr. Norbert Platzer Springborn Laboratories, Inc. Enf ield , Connecticut 06082

Handbook of Fiber Science and Technology: Volume 111, High Technology Fibers, Part A, M. Lewin and J. Preston, Eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, 1985, 397 pp.

This book begins the third volume in a five-volume series whose purpose is to provide a coherent picture of developments in various aspects of fiber and textile technology over the last 30 years. "his work focusses on recently developed technolo- gies for fibrous materials which impact several sectors in the marketplace including apparel and home furnishings (with chapters on Polyblend Fibers, Fibrous Materials for Biomedical Applications, Absorbent Fibers), reinforcing fibers (Carbon and Gra- phite Fibers, Polybenzimidazole Fibers, Polyphenylene Sulfide Fibers, High-Perfor- mance Aramid Fibers), and biomedical applications (Fibrous Materials for Biomedical Applications, Biodegradable Polymers). The editors have assembled a series of well- written review articles which will be quite useful to one who seeks a general introduc- tion to each technology area. In general, the individual chapters provide an attractive mix of introductory information and recent developments in combination with exten- sive references for further reading. The fact that the chapters are written by recog- nized experts in each field provides the reader the added benefit of special insights into the history of and circumstances surrounding important developments in several of these areas.

John P. O'Brien du Pont Company Wilmington, Delaware 12997