This book is mainly based on the results of the EU-funded UE-FP7 Project EnCoRe, which aimed to characterize the key physical and mechanical properties of a novel class of advanced cement-based materials incorporating recycled powders and aggregates and/or natural ingredients in order to allow partial or even total replacement of conventional constituents. More specifically, the project objectives were to predict the physical and mechanical performance of concrete with recycled aggregates; to understand the potential contribution of recycled fibers as a dispersed reinforcement in concrete matrices; and to demonstrate the feasibility and possible applications of natural fibers as a reinforcement in cementitious composites. All of these aspects are fully covered in the book. The opening chapters explain the material concept and design and discuss the experimental characterization of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the recycled raw constituents, as well as of the cementitious composite incorporating them. The numerical models with potentialities for describing the behavior at material and structural level of constructions systems made by these composites are presented. Finally, engineering applications and guidelines for production and design are proposed.

This book describes current advances in the research on membranes and applications in industry, groundwater, and desalination processes. Topics range from synthesis of new polymers to preparation of membranes using new water treatments for effluents, graphite membranes, development of polymeric and ceramic materials for production of membranes intended to separate gases and liquids, and liquid-liquid phases. The authors include materials used to produce catalytic membranes for polymer synthesis. The book also details theoretical approaches and simulation of membrane processes and parameters and design.

Joining Technologies for Composites and Dissimilar Materials, Volume 10 of the Proceedings of the 2016 SEM Annual Conference & Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, the tenth volume of ten from the Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on a wide range of areas, including: Composite Joints Non-Adhesive Bonding Adhesive Bonding Joining of Ceramic & Other Materials

This book presents a comprehensive survey about conducting polymers and their hybrids with different materials. It highlights the topics pertinent to research and development in academia and in the industry. The book thus discusses the preparation and characterization of these materials, as well as materials properties and their processing. The current challenges in the field are addressed, and an outline on new and even futuristic approaches is given. "Conducting Polymer Hybrids" is concerned with a fascinating class of materials with the promise for wide-ranging applications, including energy generation and storage, supercapacitors, electronics, display technologies, sensing, environmental and biomedical applications. The book covers a large variety of systems: one-, two-, and three-dimenstional composites and hybrids, mixed at micro- and nanolevel.

Authored by many of the world's leading experts on high-Tc superconductivity, this volume presents a panorama of ongoing research in the field, as well as insights into related multifunctional materials. The contributions cover many different and complementary aspects of the physics and materials challenges, with an emphasis on superconducting materials that have emerged since the discovery of the cuprate superconductors, for example pnictides, MgB2, H2S and other hydrides. Special attention is also paid to interface superconductivity. In addition to superconductors, the volume also addresses materials related to polar and multifunctional ground states, another class of materials that owes its discovery to Prof. Muller's ground-breaking research on SrTiO3.

This book helps the reader to understand the specific properties of piezoelectric ceramic resonators. It provides their theoretical description by immitance and equivalent circuit method. The nummerical modelling described is accompanied by examples of properties measured experimentally. Piezoelectric ceramic transformers are also covered, followed by a series of solved and unsolved problems prepared specially for students.

This book offers in-depth insights into the photochemical behavior of multicomponent polymeric-based materials, with a particular emphasis on the photodegradation and photostabilization of these materials. Studying various classes of materials bases such as polysaccharides, wood, synthetic polymers, rubber blends, and nanocomposites, it offers a valuable reference source for graduate and postgraduate students, engineering students, research scholars and polymer engineers working in industry.

The Third Edition of Ceramic Materials for Electronics studies a wide range of ceramic materials, including insulators, conductors, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics, through detailed discussion of their properties, characterization, fabrication, and applications in electronics. The author summarizes the latest trends and advancements in the field, and explores important topics such as ceramic thin film, functional device technology, and thick film technology. Edited by a leading expert on the subject, this new edition includes more than 150 pages of new information; restructured reference materials, figures, and tables; as well as additional device application-oriented segments.

This book describes the history, origin and basic characteristics of bioactive materials. It includes a chapter dedicated to hydroxyapatite mineral, its formation and its bioactive properties. The authors address how cytotoxicity is a determining step for bioactivity. Applications of bioactive materials in the contexts of tissue regeneration, bone regeneration and cancer therapy are also covered. Silicate, metallic and mesoporous glasses are described, as well as the challenges and future prospects of research in this field.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in silicon compounds for thermoelectric applications. Silicides are materials with good initial thermoelectric properties, which can be enhanced through tuning of their micro- and macrostructure. These compounds present various conduction mechanisms and complex band structures. Moreover, some are isotropic, and others anisotropic, which is highly beneficial for device tailoring. Silicides are a particularly attractive material for sensors, thermoelectric generators, and other applications because they are environmentally friendly, abundant, and low cost. This concise volume covers fundamentals and applications for an audience of materials scientists, chemists, solid-state physicists, and engineers.

The brief explains in simple terms the essentials of polymer chemistry and how polymers came to be discovered by pioneers in this field. It relates the many uses of polymers, including those not widely recognised by the lay person. The chemistry of polymerisation and the influence of chemical structure and additives on properties are described. Ethical issues are considered, especially in the context of huge tonnages of plastics. Finally short paragraphs on more than 30 common polymers are listed chronologically with chemical structures, properties and applications. It will appeal to those with connections to or within the plastics, rubber and textile industries, science students, members of other science disciplines using polymers, as well as people just curious to know about everyday plastics.

This book presents detailed information on the production and properties of carbon fibers derived from lignin precursors. Focusing on future directions in the carbon fiber industry, it also introduces a novel process for obtaining high-purity lignin, a key aspect in the manufacture of high-quality carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is currently the most preferred lightweight manufacturing material and is rapidly becoming the material of choice for manufacturers around the world. Although more than 80% of commercial carbon fiber is estimated to use PAN (polyacrylonitrile) as a precursor, carbon fiber manufactured from PAN is expensive and therefore its application is limited to high-performance structural materials. Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after cellulose and offers a carbon-rich, renewable resource. As a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry and the production of cellulosic ethanol, lignin is also available at low cost, making it an economically attractive alternative to PAN for the production of carbon fibers, as highlighted in this book. The information presented will be of interest to all those involved in the investigation of carbon fiber materials, carbon fiber manufacturers and carbon fiber users.

Structured Glass-Fiber Catalysts discusses the synthesis of advanced glass-fiber catalysts for various emerging applications, investigation of their properties, and development of the engineering basis required for their wide practical application. This book describes how to create and use such catalysts for different chemical reactions. It discusses how to efficiently arrange them into structured catalytic cartridges and gives examples of their successful application for purification of waste gases from different hazardous contaminants and environmentally safe combustion of fuels. It covers nanosize surface science fundamentals through large-scale commercial catalytic reactors. This book is aimed at researchers and engineers in the fields of chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and materials engineering.

This book covers the latest advances in polymer-inorganic nanocomposites, with particular focus on high-added-value applications in fields including electronics, optics, magnetism and biotechnology. The unique focus of this book is on electronic, optical, magnetic and biomedical applications of hybrid nanocomposites. Coverage includes: Synthesis methods and issues and production scale-up; Characterization methods; Electronic applications; Optical applications and Photonics; Magnetic applications; and Biomedical applications. The book offers readers a solid grasp of the state of the art, and of current challenges in non-traditional applications of hybrid nanocomposites.

This book addresses a broad spectrum of areas in both hybrid materials and hierarchical composites, including recent development of processing technologies, structural designs, modern computer simulation techniques, and the relationships between the processing-structure-property-performance. Each topic is introduced at length with numerous  and detailed examples and over 150 illustrations.   In addition, the authors present a method of categorizing these materials, so that representative examples of all material classes are discussed.

These proceedings comprise the peer-reviewed contributions submitted to the 11th International Congress for Applied Mineralogy (ICAM) held July 5-10, 2013, at the Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST) in Mianyang, China. The biennial ICAM is the most important gathering of applied mineralogists, organized every other year by the ICAM-Council. The multidisciplinary research presented in this book will be of interest to scientists and professionals dealing with topics like environmental and medical mineralogy; industrial minerals; bio-minerals and biomaterials; advanced materials; process mineralogy; mining and metallurgy; cultural heritage; the interaction of minerals with microorganisms; and solid waste treatment and recycling, including genetic mineralogy. "The field of applied mineralogy has been able to match society's pace by continuously reinventing itself, quickly adopting new technologies and instrumentation as they became available and putting them to work for the service of mankind living in a world that heavily relies on minerals. Over the past few decades, applied mineralogy has evolved into a cutting- edge discipline that leads the way for science, engineering and research and development to benefit society. Contrary to popular belief, mineral resources are limited, and we have an obligation to our heirs to use them responsibly." Dr. Maarten A.T.M. Broekmans Post-President ICAM Council

This book covers the different aspects of tropical natural fibre composites in areas such as properties, design and analysis, manufacturing techniques, material selection of kenaf, oil palm, sugar palm, pineapple leaf, coconut, sugarcane and banana based fibre composites. Important properties such as mechanical and thermal of natural fibres as well their composites are presented. A study on the composite fibre-matrix interface is highlighted together with the design process and analysis of products from natural fibre composites. An overview on the manufacturing techniques (conventionally used to produce fibre glass fibre composites) such as pultrusion and filament winding is described to produce natural fibre composites. The importance of material selection system to obtain the most optimum materials for application in engineering components from natural fibre composites is covered with a strong focus on the concurrent engineering for natural fibre composites.

This critical volume examines the different methods used for the synthesis of a great number of photocatalysts, including TiO2, ZnO and other modified semiconductors, as well as characterization techniques used for determining the optical, structural and morphological properties of the semiconducting materials. Additionally, the authors discuss photoelectrochemical methods for determining the light activity of the photocatalytic semiconductors by means of measurement of properties such as band gap energy, flat band potential and kinetics of hole and electron transfer. Photocatalytic Semiconductors: Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Applications provide an overview of the semiconductor materials from first- to third-generation photocatalysts and their applications in wastewater treatment and water disinfection. The book further presents economic and toxicological aspects in the production and application of photocatalytic materials.

This book presents a complete and updated overview of Flame Spray process, from its History to the Apparatus necessary for the synthesis of nanostructures. It addresses not only the materials produced by this technique, but also their properties, such as crystallinity and crystallite size, specific surface area, particle size and morphology. Also, the principles of nanoparticle formation are described. It is a useful read to all those interested in low cost synthesis of nanostructured powders and coatings.

This thesis presents neutron scattering data that contribute to the understanding of four distinct areas of condensed matter physics, including iso-compositional liquid-liquid phase transitions and the glass formation in rare earth doped BaTi2O5. In situ aerodynamic levitation with laser heating was combined with neutron scattering in order to study both liquid-liquid phase transitions in (Y2O3)x(Al2O3)1-x and the atomic and magnetic ordering in liquid Invar. Among several significant results, obtained in this case from small angle neutron scattering, was the absence of a phase transition across a range of temperatures and compositions in the yttria aluminates. As these are a principal system in which liquid-liquid phase transitions have been hypothesized, this is an important contribution in a contentious area.

This thesis reports on innovations in the design and direct synthesis of graphene-based woven fabric (GWF) and multi-layer graphene/porous carbon woven fabric films (MLG/PC) by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), using woven copper mesh and nickel mesh as the template. Further, it presents the successful applications of these materials as a platform for solar cells, super capacitors and sensors, making it especially of interest to researchers and graduate students in the fields of materials sciences, nanotechnology and renewable energy.

This book covers the latest progress in the field of transparent ceramics, emphasizing their processing as well as solid-state lasers. It consists of 10 chapters covering the synthesis, characterization and compaction, fundamentals of sintering, densification of transparent ceramics by different methods as well as transparent ceramic applications. This book can be used as a reference for senior undergraduate to postgraduate students, researchers, engineers and material scientists working in solid-state physics.

Nanostructured materials have been largely studied in the last few years. They have great potential of applications in different fields such as materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, mechanic and medicine. Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials is a subject of great interest involving science, market, politicians, government and society. Based on results obtained by the authors' research group during the past decade, this book comes to present novel techniques to synthesize nanostructured materials and characterize their properties such as crystallinity and crystallite size, specific surface area, particle size, morphology and catalytic activity. This book is aimed for students, researchers and engineers searching for methodologies to obtain and characterize nanostructures in details.

The book depicts comprehensive studies on thermal decomposition of Kaolinite by different physico-chemical methods carried out by various scientists in last 100 years and results of the studies conducted by author in past 33 years. It also provides a critical analysis of different views on Kaolinite–Mullite reaction series, characterization of controversial spinel phase in Kaolinite–Mullite reaction series and explanation of DTA events of Kaolinite. The book helps both researchers and students to realise the new mechanism of transformation of Kaolinite to Mullite. The new reaction processes discussed in the book also help ceramic experts to synthesize Mullite grains in commercial way for production of Mullite porcelain and Mullite refractory.

Composite insulators have been in service in electric power networks successfully for more than 40 years, and now up to the highest operating voltages. The present book extensively covers such insulators with a special focus on today's prevalent material, which is silicone rubber. It includes a detailed description of the electrical and mechanical characteristics of composite insulators, their material properties, their design as well as typical applications and service experience. Particular attention is given to the mechanical behavior of long rod and post insulators, insulated cross-arms, interphase spacers and hollow core apparatus insulators. The state of the art on manufacturing procedures and the selection and dimensioning of the necessary power arc and corona fittings is presented as well as evaluation tests of "old" insulators, i.e. insulators after many years in service. The closing chapter deals with an up to date overview of test procedures and IEC standards. The selection and the contents of the various subjects covered in this book are based on the authors' more than thirty years of experience with a renowned European manufacturer of composite insulators and string hardware. Their long and active participation in the relevant CIGRE and IEC working bodies adding to this experience. This book is therefore addressed to practicing engineers from electric utilities and the industry, as well as to academic professionals.