This and its companion Volume 2 document the proceedings of the International Symposium on Physicochemical Aspects of Polymer Surfaces held under the auspices of the American Chemical Society in New York City, August 23-28, 1981. This event was sponsored by the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry and the Divisions of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry, and Industrial and Engineering Chemistry were the cosponsors. The study of polymer surfaces is important from both funda­ mental and applied points of view. The applications of polymers are legion and wheresoever polymers are used, their surface char­ acteristics, inter alia, are of great concern and importance; and the areas where polymers find applications range from microelec­ tronics to prosthetics. In the last decade or so, the availabil­ ity of various sophisticated surface analytical techniques, par­ ticularly ESCA, has been a boon in enhancing our knowledge of polymer surfaces. This Symposium was designed to bring together scientists and technologists interested in all aspects of polymer surfaces, to provide a forum for discussion of various ramifications of poly­ mer surfaces, to discover the latest developments, to provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas, and to highlight areas which are in astate of rapid development and those which need intensified efforts. If the comments from attendees is any barometer of the success of an event, then this Symposium was a grand success and the above objectives were amply fulfilled.