Handbook of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Volumes 1 and 2, Ed. Krister Holmberg; John Wiley & Sons, 2001; $600; ISBN: 0‐471‐49083‐0
The study of colloid science and surface science and their application to various products by chemists, physicists, and technologists has deep historical roots, for example, in the preparation of inks, paper, lubricants, and detergents. In more recent times, scientists and engineers have developed theories explaining important phenomena such as in wetting, emulsion stability, dispersion science and surfactant phase behavior, to name a few. Scientists and engineers have also developed new experimental techniques for studying colloid and surface science problems related to a number of important products and processes such as paper making, flotation of minerals, pharmaceuticals, photographic dispersions, and detergency. Clearly, researchers and students would benefit if important contributions to the wide‐ranging field of colloid chemistry and its application to important products and processes were available in an organized reference book or handbook.
Kister Holmberg's Handbook of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry (Volumes 1 and 2) is an excellent reference book that covers basic science aspects and their applications to a wide variety of industrial products and applications. Volume 1 begins with Surface Chemistry in Important Technologies (Part 1). The study of surface and colloid science in various industrial segments, including pharmacy, agriculture, paper making, and the petroleum industry are presented in 12 chapters. Part 2 deals with surfactants. A total of 12 chapters discuss the various types of surfactants, their properties, their interaction with polymers, environmental aspects and computer simulation of surfactants. Volume 2 is divided into three parts (Parts 3–5). Part 3—Colloidal Systems and Layer Structures at Surfaces has six chapters dealing with Solid Dispersions, Foams, Vesicles, Microemulsions, Langmuir‐Blodgett Films, Self Assembling Monolayers. Part 4 contains four chapters dealing with phenomena in surface chemistry. Important processes such as wetting, foam breaking, solubilization and rheology of surfactant phases are nicely discussed. The final part of this two‐volume handbook (Part 5) comprises 12 chapters concerned with various measurement and characterization studies of equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, critical micelle concentration, contact angle, micelle size and shape, lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases, microemulsion structure, particle size by light scattering, electrokinetic phenomena, surface interactions, stability of thin liquid films, and adsorption.
Each of the chapters is a good overview written by respected researchers in their respective fields. The Handbook of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry is an excellent starting point for researchers wanting to learn about colloidal and surface science and its applications. This two‐volume compendium is well organized and would be useful to a number of different readers: It has a good introduction for chemists, physicists, or engineers wishing to understand colloid and surface phenomena. It also is a useful companion to the problem solver in an industrial research and development environment. Its thorough coverage also qualifies it as a useful textbook and as a valuable teaching aid.
Ravi Sharma
Senior Principle Scientist
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650‐2121