TO:        Executive Board of the Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY)

FROM: W. V. Metanomski

SUBJECT: Nomenclature Committee's Report 

DATE: 20 March 1999

The Committee continues to promote polymer-nomenclature recommendations, 
in particular, those of the IUPAC Commission on Macromolecular 
Nomenclature. The Committee monitors how the macromolecular nomenclature 
matters are explained and discussed in various textbooks and handbooks, 
and offers suggestions for improvements. Individual questions from POLY 
members and requests to help naming polymers are answered promptly.

Les Sperling and Val Metanomski published in the March 1999 issue of 
POLYMER PREPRINTS the "Macromolecular Nomenclature Note No. 16" on 
"Modern Nomenclature and Terminology in Polymer Science and Engineering" 
as a reminder of what are the principles of nomenclature and what are the 
references the prospective authors need to consult.

The note was reprinted by permission in the Spring 1999 issue of PMSE - 
POLYMERIC MATERIALS: SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. While the PMSE Division has 
no Nomenclature Committee of their own, they did appoint a 
representative, Les Sperling, who is greatly interested in proper 
communication skills in the polymer technology area.

The Wiley's POLYMER HANDBOOK, 4th edition, is in the final stages of 
production. Its first chapter on "Nomenclature", compiled by Val 
Metanomski, introduces the IUPAC source-based and structure-based 
macromolecular nomenclature, discusses the use of trivial and 
semisystematic names for polymers, indicates the important features of CA 
Index names, and provides a list of polymer class names.

Four Committee members (Fox, Metanomski, Wilks, and Work) continue to be 
active members of the IUPAC Commission on Macromolecular Nomenclature. 
Topics in various stages of development, for which they are directly 
responsible, include nomenclature of cyclic macromolecules, nomenclature 
for threaded macrocyclic molecules, glossary of polymer class names, and 
terms related to polymer blends and multi-phase materials. 

This is my last report as the Committee's chairman. I wish to express my 
appreciation for the support the Committee and I have received, 
particularly from the POLY Division chairmen and secretaries, in the 
period that I served (1989-1999), and from the Editors of POLYMER 
PREPRINTS (Bill Culbertson and Rob Storey).

Dr. Edward S. (Ted) Wilks takes over as of this meeting. Ted's expertize 
in nomenclature and structural representations of polymers in industrial 
databases will provide a new stimulus to the POLY nomenclature activities 
as a service for the POLY members.