Abstract
This is a series of columns that addresses various topics within the realm of polymer degradation and stabilization. Topics that are covered in these columns include those dealing with thermal degradation and fire retardancy, photo-degradation and stabilization, or biodegradation. Because my principal area of work is in thermal degradation and fire retardancy, the columns reflect these topics. There are a number of meetings at which fire retardancy is addressed, including the annual BCC conference on Fire Retardancy, held each June in Stamford, Connecticut (http://www.bccresearch.com /flame2004/). The annual Additives meeting, usually held in March of each year, also has a section on fire retardancy (http://www.executive-conference.com/conferences/add04.html).