Barbara Stuart, B.Sc. (Sydney), M.Sc. (Sydney), Ph.D. (London), D.I.C., MRACI, MRSC, Cchem After graduating with a B.Sc. degree from the University of Sydney in Australia, Barbara Stuart then worked as a tutor at this university. She also carried out research in the field of biophysical chemistry in the Department of Physical Chemistry and graduated with an M.Sc. in 1990. The author then moved to the UK to carry out doctoral studies in polymer engineering within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology at Imperial College (University of London). After obtaining her Ph.D. in 1993, she took up a position as a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at the University of Greenwich in South East London. Barbara returned to Australia in 1995, joining the staff at the University of Technology, Sydney, where she is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science. She is presently conducting research in the fields of polymer spectroscopy, materials conservation and forensic science. Barbara is the author of three other books published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, namely Modern Infrared Spectroscopy and Biological Applications of Infrared Spectroscopy, both in the ACOL series of open learning texts, and Polymer Analysis in this current AnTS series of texts.