Ian Hamley is the Diamond Professor of Physical Chemistry at Reading University (UK). He was educated at Reading University gaining a BSc in Chemical Physics and he received his PhD at the University of Southampton in 1991.

• Preface to the Revised Edition.Preface to the First Edition. 1. Introduction. 1.1Introduction. 1.2 Intermolecular Interactions. 1.3 Structural Organization. 1.4 Dynamics. 1.5 Phase Transitions. 1.6 Order Parameters. 1.7 Scaling Laws. 1.8 Polydispersity. 1.9 Experimental Techniques for Investigating Soft Matter. 1.10 Computer Simulation. Further Reading.2. Polymers. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Synthesis. 2.3 Polymer Chain Conformation. 2.4 Characterization. 2.5 Polymer Solutions. 2.6 Amorphous Polymers. 2.7 Crystalline Polymers. 2.8 Plastics. 2.9 Rubber. 2.10 Fibres. 2.11 Polymer Blends and Block Copolymers. 2.12 Dendrimers and Hyperbranched Polymers. 2.13 Polyelectrolytes. 2.14 Electronic and Opto-Electronic Polymers. Further Reading.Questions.3. Colloids. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Types of Colloids. 3.3 Forces between Colloidal Particles. 3.4 Characterization of Colloids. 3.5 Charge Stabilization. 3.6 Steric Stabilization. 3.7 Effect of Polymers on Colloid Stability. 3.8 Kinetic Properties. 3.9 Sols. 3.10 Gels. 3.11 Clays. 3.12 Foams. 3.13 Emulsions. 3.14 Food Colloids. 3.15 Concentrated Colloidal Dispersions. Further Reading. Questions.4. Amphiphiles. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Types of Amphiphile. 4.3 Surface Activity. 4.4 Surfactant Monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett Films. 4.5 Adsorption at Solid Interfaces. 4.6 Micellization and the Critical Micelle Concentration. 4.7 Detergency. 4.8 Solubilization in Micelles. 4.9 Interfacial Curvature and Its Relationship to Molecular Structure. 4.10 Liquid Crystal Phases at High Concentrations. 4.11 Membranes. 4.12 Templated Structures. Further Reading.Questions.5. Liquid Crystals. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Types of Liquid Crystals. 5.3 Characteristics of Liquid Crystal Phases. 5.4 Identification of Liquid Crystal Phases. 5.5 Orientational Order. 5.6 Elastic Properties. 5.7 Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystals. Further Reading.Questions.6. Biological Soft Matter Science. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Lipid Membranes. 6.3 DNA. 6.4 Proteins. 6.5 Polysaccharides and Glycoproteins. 6.6 Macromolecular Assemblies. Further Reading.Questions.Numerical Solutions to Questions.Index.

"It is quite amazing how well Hamley actually presents and explains the large number of examples." (CHOICE, April 2008)