Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science

Focusing on qualitative science and experimental techniques, this book provides a comprehensive, practical introduction to the field of soft matter, which merges tools from physics, materials science, chemistry, biology, and computer science. The text first presents an overview of the field and a summary of physical principles of self-assembly in soft materials. It then covers liquid crystals, colloids, polymers, gels, and soft biomaterials, including what defines this class of materials, key properties, and common characterization methods. The author emphasizes imaging techniques and other methods used to characterize soft materials in the lab.

Linda S. Hirst, Ph.D., is a professor of physics at the University of California, Merced, where she runs a soft matter experimental research group and teaches introductory physics and condensed matter physics.

Introduction

Introduction to Soft Matter

Phases, Phase Transitions, and Phase Separation

Self-Assembly and Equilibrium

Scaling and Power Laws in Soft Matter

Liquid Crystals

Liquid Crystals, Thermotropics, and Lyotropics

Techniques for Liquid Crystal Characterization

Defects and Textures

Applications of Liquid Crystals

LCDs, Temperature Sensors, and Optical Modulators

Colloids

Colloidal Particles and Their Behavior in Solution

Techniques in Colloidal Science

Phase Changes in Colloids

Applications of Colloidal Solutions

Polymers

Structure of Polymer Molecules, Copolymers, and Dendrimers

Techniques for Polymer Characterization

Polymers in Everyday Life

Gels

Types of Gels and Gelation

Characterization Techniques

Applications of Gels

Tissue Engineering, Aerogels, Foods, etc.

Soft Biological Materials

Biological Tissue as Soft Matter

Techniques in Biophysics

Applications of Soft Biomaterials