New book on multilayer flexible packaging

A new book on “Multilayer Flexible Packaging” has just been published by ELSEVIER as part of its William-Andrew PDL (Plastics Design Library) Handbook Series. The book is edited by John R Wagner Jr. and has a wide range of mostly industrial (and a couple academic) contributors. Topics categories range from Resins, Technologies and Multilayer Films and contain many chapters on the additives and processing methods used to produce multilayer packaging films. Also included are chapters on equipment for flat and round dies, uniaxially and biaxially orientation, polymer blending, liquid coating and vacuum coating of substrates. The book has been dedicated to the authors, an unusual gesture, but I am sure appreciated by all involved (I did one and part of another chapter). I think the chapters very well done.

Take for example, the Blending chapter by Barry Morris is one of the best I have seen for practical control of film morphology and displays the important scientific background for controlling the blend morphology. For instance the use of the Critical Capillary Number for dispersion, something I have been using for many years and slowly collected from the literature (112 references for this chapter alone). This chapter alone should sell the book, in combination with the others I think it will be a fine addition to your library (no sales benefit to me).

John was a co-worker (co-conspirator?) at Mobil for many years and a friend as well. One of John’s favorite sayings and one I find very well suited to what all the chapter authors strive for in their work on this book is “…Knowledge is the only thing I know that one can give away and still retain and in the giving enhance what you have.” This is a fine sentiment indeed and a key principle driving my work in this Blog.