Through advanced characterization and new fabrication techniques, the physics, chemistry, and structure of functional materials have become a central focus of investigation in materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. This book presents a detailed overview of recent research developments on functional materials, including nanomaterials, synthesis, characterization, and applications. A series of chapters provides state-of-the-art information on structures and performance of polymer composites. This volume contains topical articles by prominent leaders in this field. The research presented discusses design principles, candidate materials and systems, and current advances, and serves as a useful source of insight into this field. This book provides a strong understanding of the primary types of materials and composites, as well as the relationships that exist between the structural elements of materials and their properties. The relationships among processing, structure, properties, and performance components are explored throughout the chapters.

This book covers a variety of recent research on natural polymers, biomaterials, composites, and their applications. It provides valuable insights into the developments that arose with the merger between biological and polymeric materials that have led to many technological and commercial developments. The extensive research being conducted in the field of bio-based polymers will eventually lead to better health care, cleaner energy sources, and a safer environment for future generations. This book covers topics such as synthesis of novel biomaterials for application in varied fields, such as medicine, wastewater treatment, and polymer composites. It includes the most up-to-date research articles in the field of natural polymers and biomaterials reviewed by the competent researchers in the field. This book is intended for researchers in the fields of materials science, polymer chemistry, and applied biology.

This book focuses mainly on the recent developments of all types of theoretical, mathematical, and computational conceptions, as well as modelling and simulation of specific research themes covering all scientific and technical disciplines from chemistry, physics, and engineering to biology and medicine. The book contains timely reviews and research covering fundamental and applied research aspects in all disciplines of natural sciences, including their historical representations and philosophical perspectives. The book discusses the fact that the largest and smallest values of the fukui function and local softness do not necessarily correspond to the softness and hardness regions of the molecules such as porphyrins. The authors have adopted two popular calculation procedures for this venture. One is the very old Huckel molecular orbital calculation, and the other is one of best semi-empirical AM-1 procedures for such systems. Our finding is that neither the fukui functions nor the local softnesses can predict the preferred donor sites of porphyrins toward metal ions.

Keeping in mind the advantages of bio-based materials, this book focuses on the potential efficacy of different biocomposites procured from diverse natural resources and the preparation and processing of the biocomposites to be used for a variety of applications. Each chapter gives an overview on a particular biocomposite material and its processing and successful utilization for selected applications. The chapters summarize recently developed research on such topics as: * Spider silk biocomposites * Biogenic hydroxyapatite-based implant biocomposites * Liquid crystals and cellulose derivatives biocomposites * Bio-based epoxy resins * Bio-based polyphenols and lignocellulosic fibers * Wood-based biocomposites * Flame retardant biocomposites * Biocomposites for industrial noise control * Cellulose-based bionanocomposites Each individual chapter also focuses on the knowledge and understanding of the interfaces manifested in these biocomposites systems and the optimization of different parameters for novel properties. In addition to this, the book also summarizes the recent developments made in the area of injection molding of biocomposites, chemical functionalization of natural fibers, processing of biocomposites, and their applications in the automotive and biomedical industries. A number of critical issues and suggestions for future work are discussed, underscoring the roles of researchers for the efficient development of biocomposite materials through value addition to enhance their use.

This valuable book is devoted to problems of the synthesis, vulcanization, modification, and study of structure and properties of highly filled sealants based on polysulfide oligomers (PSO). The book summarizes information concerning chemistry, synthesis technology, structure, and properties of liquid thiokols and thiokol-containing polyesters. It also presents a literary survey on chemism and mechanisms for liquid thiokols vulcanization involving oxidants or through polyaddition. The book describes formulation principles of sealants, their properties, and application areas. The book provides research on vulcanization and modification of thiokol sealants involving thiokol-epoxy resin copolymers, unsaturated polyesters, and various isocyanate prepolymers. It describes studies of mechanisms underlying vulcanization of polysulphide oligomers by manganese dioxide, sodium dichromate and zinc oxide, and also of the structure and properties of sealants on the basis of a liquid thiokol and commercial " -2" polymer depending on a chemical nature and the ratio of constituent oligomers. The book gives information on the influence of filling materials on vulcanization kinetics, rheological, and physico-mechanical properties of sealants depending on the nature of PSO. The book will be of interest to research personnel of scientific institutes and centers developing reactive oligomers and their compositions and studying their structure and properties as well as engineers working in science centers or enterprises working in the area of development, production, and application of polysulfide oligomers and sealants.

This important volume highlights the latest developments and trends in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology. It presents the developments of advanced materials and respective tools to characterize and predict the material properties and behavior. The book provides original, theoretical, and important experimental results that use non-routine methodologies often unfamiliar to the usual readers. The papers on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of chemical, biochemistry, and biological programs indicate the need for new experimental approaches.

This book covers a selection of recent research studies and new developments in physics and chemistry in micro and nanoscale materials. It brings together research contributions from eminent experts in the field from both academic and industry, providing the latest developments in advanced materials chemical domains.

Metallic Glass-Based Nanocomposites: Molecular Dynamics Study of Properties provides readers with an overview of the most commonly used tools for MD simulation of metallic glass composites and provides all the basic steps necessary for simulating any material on Materials Studio. After reading this book, readers will be able to model their own problems on this tool for predicting the properties of metallic glass composites. This book provides an introduction to metallic glasses with definitions and classifications, provides detailed explanations of various types of composites, reinforcements and matrices, and explores the basic mechanisms of reinforcement-MG interaction during mechanical loading. It explains various models for calculating the thermal conductivity of metallic glass composites and provides examples of molecular dynamics simulations. Aimed at students and researchers, this book caters to the needs of those working in the field of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of metallic glass composites.

This book covers all important nomenclature, theories of bonding and stereochemistry of coordination complexes. The authors have made an effort to inscribe the ideas knowledge, clearly and in an interesting way to benefit the readers. The complexities of Molecular Orbital theory have been explained in a very simple and easy manner. It also deals with transition and inner transition metals. Conceptually, all transition and inner transition elements form complexes which have definite geometry and show interesting properties. General and specific methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties of each element has been discussed at length. Group wise study of elements in d-block series have been explained. Important compounds, complexes and organometallic compounds of metals in different oxidation states have been given explicitly. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

This text explores the connections between different thermodynamic subjects related to fluid systems. Emphasis is placed on the clarification of concepts by returning to the conceptual foundation of thermodynamics and special effort is directed to the use of a simple nomenclature and algebra. The book presents the structural elements of classical thermodynamics of fluid systems, covers the treatment of mixtures, and shows via examples and references both the usefulness and the limitations of classical thermodynamics for the treatment of practical problems related to fluid systems. It also includes diverse selected topics of interest to researchers and advanced students and four practical appendices, including an introduction to material balances and step-by-step procedures for using the Virial EOS and the PRSV EOS for fugacities and the ASOG-KT group method for activity coefficients. The Olivera-Fuentes table of PRSV parameters for more than 800 chemical compounds and the Gmehling-Tochigi tables of ASOG interaction parameters for 43 groups are included.

With growing concern for the environment and the rising price of crude oil, there is increasing demand for non-petroleum-based polymers from renewable resources. Recognizing emerging developments in biopolymer systems research, this book brings together a number of key biopolymer and bioplastic topics in one place. The book highlights the importance and impact of eco-friendly green biopolymers and bioplastics, both environmentally and economically. It provides important insight into the diversity of polymers obtained directly from, or derived from, renewable resources. This volume, Applied Biopolymer Technology and Bioplastics: Sustainable Development by Green Engineering Materials, will be valuable for a broad audience of engineers and scientists, especially those designing with biopolymers and biodegradable plastics, or evaluating the options for switching from traditional plastics to biopolymers. The content of this book will prove useful for students, researchers, and professionals working in the field of green technology.

Polymeric foams are sturdy yet lightweight materials with applications across a variety of industries, from packaging to aerospace. As demand for these materials increase, so does innovation in the development of new processes and products. This book captures the most dynamic advances in processes, technologies, and products related to the polymeric foam market. It describes the latest business trends including new microcellular commercialization, sustainable foam products, and nanofoams. It also discusses novel processes, new and environmentally friendly blowing agents, and the development and usage of various types of foams, including bead and polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyetherimide microcellular, and nanocellular. The book also covers flame-retardant foams, rigid foam composites, and foam sandwich composites and details applications in structural engineering, electronics, and insulation. Authored by leading experts in the field, this book minimizes the gap between research and application in this important and growing area.

This timely book covers basic mechanisms, characterization, theoretical simulations, and applications for exchange bias in granular nanosystems, thin films, and bulk systems. After an overview of the field and key principles, the next section covers nanogranular (core-shell) systems, followed by chapters on thin films, bilayers/multilayers nanostructures, dilute magnetic semiconductors, and multiferroic systems. A final section turns to bulk systems, such as those consisting of perovskite structures, rare earth-transition metal intermetallic, and ion implantations. Readers of this book will obtain A complete, modern overview on exchange bias phenomena, covering synthesis, characterization techniques, and applications An introduction to all the important phenomenological models proposed for thin films, bulk materials, and nanoparticles Detailed discussion of the importance of size, shape, cooling field, and temperature on exchange bias properties Understanding of novel applications of exchange bias systems

Natural Products Chemistry: Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Phytochemistry focuses on the development of biochemical, biomedical and their applications. It highlights the importance of accomplishing an integration of engineering with biology and medicine to understand and manage the scientific, industrial, and clinical aspects. It also explains both the basic science and the applications of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals, with special emphasis on their clinical use. The biological background provided enables readers to comprehend the major problems in biochemical engineering and formulate effective solutions. This title also expands upon current concepts with the latest research and applications, providing both the breadth and depth researchers need. The book also introduces the topic of natural products chemistry with an overview of key concepts. This book is aimed at professionals from industry, academicians engaged in chemical science or natural product chemistry research, and graduate-level students.

This book reviews the latest research, development, and future potential of polyimides and green polymer chemistry. It combines the major interdisciplinary research in this area. Polymers with imidic structure, known as polyimides, are widely investigated owing to their practical implications in numerous industrial sectors. The book explains why polyimides offer versatility unparalleled in comparison to most other classes of macromolecules. In addition, developments in green polymer chemistry in this area have been stimulated by health and environmental concerns, interest in sustainability, desire to decrease the dependence on petroleum, and opportunities to design and produce "green" products and processes. Major advances include new uses of green processing methodologies, and green polymeric products. Imidic Polymers and Green Polymer Chemistry: New Technology and Developments in Process and Product is targeted to scientists, engineers, and students who are involved or interested in green polymer chemistry and imidic polymers. This book will serve as a valuable reference for those with an interest in synthesis of polyimides and the chemistry and physical chemistry of polyimide compounds.

Now in its second edition, Nuclear Forensic Analysis provides a multidisciplinary reference for forensic scientists, analytical and nuclear chemists, and nuclear physicists in one convenient source. The authors focus particularly on the chemical, physical, and nuclear aspects associated with the production or interrogation of a radioactive sample. They consolidate fundamental principles of nuclear forensic analysis, all pertinent protocols and procedures, computer modeling development, interpretational insights, and attribution considerations. The principles and techniques detailed are then demonstrated and discussed in their applications to real-world investigations and casework conducted over the past several years. Highlights of the Second Edition include: A new section on sample analysis considerations and interpretation following a post-detonation nuclear forensic collection New case studies, including the most wide-ranging and multidisciplinary nuclear forensic investigation conducted by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to date Expanded treatments of radiologic dispersal devices (RDDs) and statistical analysis methodologies The material is presented with minimal mathematical formality, using consistent terminology with limited jargon, making it a reliable, accessible reference. The broad-based coverage provides important insight into the multifaceted changes facing this recently developed science.

Due to recent advancements in the development of numerical algorithms and computational hardware, computer simulations of biological membranes, often requiring use of substantial computational resources, are now reaching a mature stage. Since molecular processes in membranes occur on a multitude of spatial and time scales, molecular simulations of membranes can also serve as a testing ground for use of multi-scale simulation techniques. This book addresses some of the important issues related to understanding properties and behavior of model biological membranes and it Shows how simulations improve our understanding of biological membranes and makes connections with experimental results. Presents a careful discussion of the force fields used in the membrane simulations including detailed all-atom fields and coarse-grained fields. Presents a continuum description of membranes. Discusses a variety of issues such as influence of membrane surfaces on properties of water, interaction between membranes across water, nanoparticle permeation across the membrane, action of anesthetics and creation of inhomogeneous regions in membranes. Discusses important methodological issues when using simulations to examine phenomena such as pore creation and permeation across membranes. Discusses progress recently achieved in modeling bacterial membranes. It will be a valuable resource for graduate students, researchers and instructors in biochemistry, biophysics, pharmacology, physiology, and computational biology.

Carbon Dioxide Reduction through Advanced Conversion and Utilization Technologies covers fundamentals, advanced conversion technologies, economic feasibility analysis, and future research directions in the field of CO2 conversion and utilization. This book emphasizes principles of various conversion technologies for CO2 reduction such as enzymatic conversion, mineralization, thermochemical, photochemical, and electrochemical processes. It addresses materials, components, assembly and manufacturing, degradation mechanisms, challenges, and development strategies. Applications of conversion technologies for CO2 reduction to produce useful fuels and chemicals in energy and industrial systems are discussed as solutions to reduce greenhouse effects and energy shortages. Particularly, the advanced materials and technology of high temperature co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 to produce sustainable fuels using solid oxide cells (SOCs) are reviewed and the introduction, fundamentals, and some significant topics regarding this CO2 conversion process are discussed. This book provides a comprehensive and clear picture of advanced technologies in CO2 conversion and utilization. Written in a clear and detailed manner, it is suitable for students as well as industry professionals, researchers, and academics.

The purpose of this book is to focus on major considerations in the clinical use of botanicals as an integrated therapy in current health care. The book uses an organ system approach to presenting clinical evidence on the use of botanicals for common conditions. The chapters include brief sections on background and pharmacognosy, preparation and dosing, safety, evidence and clinical application. In addition, several chapters highlight pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic considerations with botanicals in precision medicine and their use in special populations. Finally, a summary on the editors' perspective of "challenges and opportunities" is provided, which discusses the practice of botanicals as integrative therapies and where they are heading in the future.

This book highlights the role fungi play in bioremediation, as well as the mechanisms and enzymes involved in this process. It covers the application of bioremediation with fungi in polluted sites and gives a wide overview of the main applications of remediation, such as degradation of xenobiotics, gaseous pollutants, and metal reduction. The book explains the degradation of emergent pollutants and radioactive compounds by fungi, which is relevant to the current pollution problems that have been studied over the last few decades. The book also describes the most advanced techniques and tools that are currently used in this field of study.

"the present book will be of great value for both newcomers to the field and mature active researchers by serving as a coherent and timely introduction to some of the modern approaches, ideas, results, emerging understanding, and many open questions in this fascinating field of polymer glasses, supercooled liquids, and thin films" -Kenneth S. Schweizer, Morris Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (from the Foreword) This book provides a timely and comprehensive overview of molecular level insights into polymer glasses in confined geometries and under deformation. Polymer glasses have become ubiquitous to our daily life, from the polycarbonate eyeglass lenses on the end of our nose to large acrylic glass panes holding water in aquarium tanks, with advantages over glass in that they are lightweight and easy to manufacture, while remaining transparent and rigid. The contents include an introduction to the field, as well as state of the art investigations. Chapters delve into studies of commonalities across different types of glass formers (polymers, small molecules, colloids, and granular materials), which have enabled microscopic and molecular level frameworks to be developed. The authors show how glass formers are modeled across different systems, thereby leading to treatments for polymer glasses with first-principle based approaches and molecular level detail. Readers across disciplines will benefit from this topical overview summarizing the key areas of polymer glasses, alongside an introduction to the main principles and approaches.

Solar Energy Conversion and Storage: Photochemical Modes showcases the latest advances in solar cell technology while offering valuable insight into the future of solar energy conversion and storage. Focusing on photochemical methods of converting and/or storing light energy in the form of electrical or chemical energy, the book: Describes various types of solar cells, including photovoltaic cells, photogalvanic cells, photoelectrochemical cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells Covers the photogeneration of hydrogen, photoreduction of carbon dioxide, and artificial/mimicking photosynthesis Discusses the generation of electricity from solar cells, as well as methods for storing solar energy in the form of chemical energy Highlights existing photochemical methods of solar energy conversion and storage Explores emerging trends such as the use of nanoparticles Solar Energy Conversion and Storage: Photochemical Modes provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art reference for graduate students, researchers, and engineers alike.

This book gives a detailed and up-to-date overview of the linearized augmented cylindrical wave (LACW) technique for nanotubes and nanowires. The author presents the mathematical foundations together with numerous applications. Method for calculating the electronic structure of point impurities, which is based on a combination of the LACW and Green's functions techniques, is presented. The book clearly demonstrates how the relativistic effects can be incorporated into LACW approach and how the spin-orbit coupling effects change the tubules band structure. Extensive illustrations of application to the inorganic nanotubes and nanowires make the book essential reading in this field above all.

The use of conducting polymers for the anticorrosion protection of metals has attracted great interest during the last 30 years. The design and development of conducting polymers-based coating systems with commercial viability is expected to be advanced by applying nanotechnology and has received substantial attention recently. This book begins with corrosion fundamentals and ends with an emphasis on developments made in conducting polymer science and technology using nanotechnology. Additionally, it gives a detailed account of experimental methods of corrosion testing.

Trace element analysis plays a prominent role in various fields, from mineralogy and geology to semiconductor manufacture and foods. In geochemical exploration, the analysis of trace elements assumes high significance due to the multifaceted role played by them. The analyte is at the detection limit of many instrumental techniques. This makes their determination difficult This book covers a wide spectrum of destructive and non-destructive analytical techniques and recent developments in them used all over the world, including developing countries, for quantitation of trace elements. With revolutionary progress in the last three to four decades in analytical techniques, several ICP-based techniques like ICP-OES and ICP-MS and other nuclear analytical techniques have enabled determination of trace elements at the ppb level. However, these methods require expensive instrumentation and cannot be made available everywhere. The quality of analytical data is dependent on valid reference standards. The book contains detailed sample preparation in varying matrices and an important chapter on statistical treatment of analytical data for the purpose of quality control and quality assurance. Pulling together, the book, containing the work carried out by the author's group in India, will be useful to analysts involved in geochemical explorations.