universtiy researchers are developing a new family of polymers that will make possible the design and introduction of novel products with unique properties ion the 1990s - new reinforcements for composites, novel coatings, adhesives, lubricants, nonlinear fiber-optic devices, conductive plastics and drug delivery systems these new materials, called starburst polymers, or dendrimers, are a new family of three dimensional spherical ot rod shaped nanostructures, ranging up to about 500 angstroms in diameter, roughly the size of proteins and enzymes. they have hollow interiors and densely packed surfaces. what makes the materials radically different is that researchers can control their size, shape, molecular weight, topology and surface chemistry to a greater degree than is possible with conventional (linear) ploymers. the ability to precisely control the production of materials enables the best properties for specific applications. the new polymers have ramifications for product designers and engineers. the traditional laws of friction, stress and fatigue are not the same on the nanomater scale as they are in conventional macroscopic materials