Advancements in Intelligent Gas Metal Arc Welding Systems: Fundamentals and Applications presents the latest on gas metal arc welding which plays a significant role in modern manufacturing industries and accounts for about 70% of welding processes. The importance of advancements in GMAW cannot be underestimated as they can lead to more efficient production strategies, resource savings and quality improvements. This book provides an overview of various aspects associated with GMAW, starting from the theoretical basis and ending with characteristics of industrial applications and control methods. Additional sections cover processes associated with welding and welding control, such as fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks, and others.

The Handbook of Sustainable Concrete and Industrial Waste Management summarizes key research trends in recycling and reusing concrete and industrial waste to reduce their environmental impact. This volume also includes important contributions in collaboration with the CRI-TEST Innovation Lab, Naples - Acerra. Part one discusses eco-friendly innovative cement and concrete and reviews key substitute materials. Part two analyzes the use of industrial waste as aggregates and the mechanical properties of concrete containing waste materials. Part three discusses differences between innovative binders, focusing on alkali-activated and geopolymer concrete. Part four provides a thorough overview of the life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete containing industrial wastes and the impacts related to the logistics of wastes, the production of the concrete, and the management of industrial wastes. By providing research examples, case studies, and practical strategies, this book is a state-of-the-art reference for researchers working in construction materials, civil or structural engineering, and engineers working in the industry.

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Civil Engineering Structures at Multiple Scales: From Single Buildings to Large-Scale Assessment provides an integrated, multiscale platform for fundamental and applied studies on the seismic vulnerability assessment of civil engineering structures, including buildings with different materials and building typologies. The book shows how various outputs obtained from different scales and layers of assessment (from building scale to the urban area) can be used to outline and implement effective risk mitigation, response and recovery strategies. In addition, it highlights how significant advances in earthquake engineering research have been achieved with the rise of new technologies and techniques. The wide variety of construction and structural systems associated with the complex behavior of their materials significantly limits the application of current codes and building standards to the existing building stock, hence this book is a welcomed guide on new construction standards and practices.

Self-Healing Materials: Principles and Technology, Second Edition provides engineers and researchers in both industry and academia the information they need to deploy self-healing technology in a range of potential applications, from adhesives to the automotive industry, and from electronics to biomedical implants. Sections discuss the principal mechanisms of self-healing and how these are applied to the development of materials that have the ability to repair themselves, either with minimal or no human intervention. In addition, the book provides a theoretical background and a review of the major research undertaken to date, providing a thorough grounding in this concept and related technology. Other sections compare the parameters of different self-healing technological processes, such as fault detection mechanisms, methods of triggering and turning off the healing processes, the activation energy of self-healing processes, the means and methods of delivery of the healing substances to the defect locations, self-healing timescale (rate of self-healing), and the extent of self-healing (healing efficiency, recovery of properties, etc.). In addition, mathematical modeling of the processes of self-healing (molecular dynamics simulation), the morphology of healed areas, and other important topics are thoroughly discussed.

Plant and Algal Hydrogels for Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine offers a materials-focused and systematic overview of biopolymeric hydrogels utilized for biomedical applications. The book details the synthesis and characterization of plant and algal-based hydrogels, with each chapter addressing a separate polysaccharide hydrogel type. Specific applications in drug delivery and regenerative medicine are also discussed, highlighting the efficacy, biocompatibility, benefits and challenges for each polysaccharide hydrogel subtype. There is increasing demand for biomaterials which reduce/prevent the host response, inflammation and rejection, hence this book provides a timely resource. Biopolymeric hydrogels have skyrocketed because of their necessity in in vivo applications. They create an environment similar to living tissue, which is both biocompatible and biodegradable. Plant and algal polysaccharides in particular are well-equipped with functional groups that are easily modified for beneficial results.

Nanotechnology in Fuel Cells focuses on the use of nanotechnology in macroscopic and nanosized fuel cells to enhance their performance and lifespan. The book covers the fundamental design concepts and promising applications of nanotechnology-enhanced fuel cells and their advantages over traditional fuel cells in portable devices, including longer shelf life and lower cost. In the case of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), nano-membranes could provide 100 times higher conductivity of hydrogen ions in low humidity conditions than traditional membranes. For hydrogen fuel cell, nanocatalysts (Pt hybrid nanoparticles) could provide 12 times higher catalytic activity. This is an important reference source for materials scientists and engineers who are looking to understand how nanotechnology is being used to create more efficient macro- and nanosized fuel cells.

Elastomer Blends and Composites: Principles, Characterization, Advances, and Applications presents the latest developments in natural rubber and synthetic rubber-based blends and nanocomposites, with a focus on current trends, future directions and state-of-the-art applications. The book introduces the fundamentals of natural rubber and synthetic rubbers, outlining synthesis, structure, properties, challenges and potential applications. This is followed by detailed coverage of compounding and formulations, manufacturing methods, and preparation of elastomer-based blends, composites, and nanocomposites. The next section of the book focuses on properties and characterization, examining elasticity, spectroscopy, barrier properties, and rheological, morphological, mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic behavior, and more. This is a highly valuable resource for researchers and advanced students in rubber (or elastomer) science, polymer blends, composites, polymer science, and materials science and engineering, as well as engineers, technologists, and scientists working with rubber-based materials for advanced applications.

Polymer Hybrid Materials and Composites: Fundamentals and Applications presents an introduction to the principles behind polymeric hybrid materials, providing both theoretical and practical information on the synthesis and application of these materials. It documents the latest innovations, ranging from materials development and characterization of properties, to applications. Sections cover the route from laboratory to industry, providing practical, actionable guidance to assist the scaling up process for applications in areas including energy technology, solar cells, water purification, medical devices, optical and electrical devices, and more. It is an essential introduction to the emerging technologies that are made possible by these advanced materials.

Fundamentals and Properties of Multifunctional Nanomaterials outlines the properties of highly intricate nanosystems, including liquid crystalline nanomaterials, magnetic nanosystems, ferroelectrics, nanomultiferroics, plasmonic nanosystems, carbon-based nanomaterials, 1D and 2D nanomaterials, and bio-nanomaterials. This book reveals the electromagnetic interference shielding properties of nanocomposites. The fundamental attributes of the nanosystems leading to the multifunctional applications in diverse areas are further explored throughout this book. This book is a valuable reference source for researchers in materials science and engineering, as well as in related disciplines, such as chemistry and physics.

Nanomaterials for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells explains nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as the characterization, manufacturing, and design of alcohol fuel cell applications. The advantages of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are significant for reliable and long-lasting portable power sources used in devices such as mobile phones and computers. Even though substantial improvements have been made in DAFC systems over the last decade, more effort is needed to commercialize DAFCs by producing durable, low-cost, and smaller-sized devices. Nanomaterials have an important role to play in achieving this aim. The use of nanotechnology in DAFCs is vital due to their role in the synthesis of nanocatalysts within the manufacturing process. Lately, nanocatalysts containing carbon such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanocoils have also attracted much attention. When compared to traditional materials, carbon-based materials have unique advantages, such as high corrosion resistance, better electrical conductivity, and less catalyst poisoning. This book also covers different aspects of nanocomposites fabrication, including their preparation, design, and characterization techniques for their fuel cell applications. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers, energy scientists, and electrochemists who are seeking to improve their understanding of how nanomaterials are being used to enhance the efficiency and lower the cost of DAFCs.

Organic Ferroelectric Materials and Applications aims to bring an up-to date account of the field with discussion of recent findings. This book presents an interdisciplinary resource for scientists from both academia and industry on the science and applications of molecular organic piezo- and ferroelectric materials. The book addresses the fundamental science of ferroelectric polymers, molecular crystals, supramolecular networks, and other key and emerging organic materials systems. It touches on important processing and characterization methods and provides an overview of current and emerging applications of organic piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics for electronics, sensors, energy harvesting, and biomedical technologies. Organic Ferroelectric Materials and Applications will be of special interest to those in academia or industry working in materials science, engineering, chemistry, and physics.

Green nanomaterials are classed as nanomaterials with no environmentally harmful, toxic, properties. The photocatalysis of nanomaterials involves photo-conduction value in efficient removal/degradation of noxious pollutants. Green nanotechnology has objectives for the development of products and processes which are environmentally friendly, economically sustainable, safe, energy-efficient, and produce little waste or emissions. Such products and processes are based on renewable materials and/or have a low net impact on the environment. Green functionalized nanomaterials, formed by a combination of nanomaterials with natural materials or are derived through a green source, are the new trends in the remediation of pollutants in environmental industries. This has the effect of making photoactive nanomaterials work under UV/sunlight radiation in order to produce reactive radical species that rapidly remove pollutants by redox mechanism. Green Functionalized Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications focuses on recent developments in the area of fabrication of green nanomaterials and their properties. It also looks at ways of lowering the risk of exposure of green functionalized nanomaterials. This needs to be pursued in the future for investigating and assessing health risks, which may be due to exposure to green nanomaterials. It is an important reference source for all those seeking to improve their understanding of how green functionalized nanomaterials are being used in a range of environmental applications, as well as considering potential toxicity implications.

Mechanical and Electro-chemical Interactions under Tribocorrosion: From Measurements to Modelling for Building a Relevant Monitoring Approach looks at progress in the field of tribocorrosion. The work is a result of the efforts of the European tribocorrosion community gathered under the auspices of the European Corrosion Federation (EFC) within WP18 Tribocorrosion. In addition to the handbook, Testing Tribocorrosion of Passivating Materials Supporting Research and industrial Innovation published in 2012, this release describes the latest scientific approaches recognized and validated experimentally to address tribocorrosion. Sections look at the phenomena of coupling through an understanding of the associated mechanisms and how to identify variables. Final sections cover strategies to control and/or extend the life of structures in a multi-process coupling situation and an in-depth description of the current state-of-the-art on modeling approaches of tribocorrosion.

Advances in Inorganic Chemistry, Volume 78 presents timely and informative summaries on current progress in a variety of subject areas. Chapters in this new release include Catching reactive species in manganese oxidation catalysis, Mechanistic Puzzles from Iron(III) TAML Activators Including Substrate Inhibition, Zero-Order and Dual Catalysis, Stepping towards C-circular economy: Integration of solar chemistry and biosystems for efficient CO2 conversion into added value chemicals and fuels, Highlighting recent work on metal-coordinated and metallic nanoparticles as NIR imaging probes for biosensing application in living cells, and more. Users will find this to be a comprehensive overview of recent findings and trends from the last decade that covers various kinds of inorganic topics, from theoretical oriented supramolecular chemistry, to the quest for accurate calculations of spin states in transition metals.

Upconversion Nanophosphors provides detailed information about various lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles and their application in different fields. It will also help solve fundamental and applied problems of inorganic phosphor materials showing upconversion behavior, as well as generate innovative ideas related to the application of inorganic phosphor materials. This book will prove to be an invaluable reference work for scientists, engineers, industrial experts, and masters and PhD students working in the field of upconversion and materials science.

Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess combines the latest glass chemistry, fibre fabrication and post processing techniques to provide a comprehensive reference on the fundamental science and latest research in fibre photonics for the mid-infrared range. The book systematically reviews the key glass materials systems including fluorides, chalcogenides, and oxides. Each materials chapter includes discussion of composition, structure, thermal, optical and mechanical properties, extrinsic and intrinsic loss mechanisms, materials preparation and purification techniques. Then Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess covers the most relevant fabrication, post-processing, and spectroscopy techniques. Fibre sources are also addressed including fibre sources for continuous wave emission, pulsed emission, and broadband emission. The book concludes with a brief overview of important medical, sensing and defence applications.

Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Combination Drugs focuses on the role of nanocarriers in the delivery of combination drugs for the management and treatment of various diseases. Nanocarriers belonging to the category of polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, lipidic nanocarriers (like nanoemulsions), liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers are now being used in the drug delivery of combination drugs. This book helps readers assimilate all the information available surrounding the application of various nanocarrier technologies for the delivery of combination drugs of synthetic and natural origin, including small and large molecules. This is an important reference source for pharmaceutical scientists and biomaterials scientists who are looking to gain an increased understanding on how nanotechnology is improving the efficiency of combination drug delivery.

Quantum dots (QDs) are hybrid organic/inorganic nanoparticles with novel physical properties. QDs have two components: an inorganic core and an optically active coated shell. Moreover, surface coatings can be applied to QDs to modify the particle as needed for experiments. Hydrophilic coatings prevent leaking of metal cargo from the core, enhancing the solubility in biological contexts and bind molecules, such as receptor-ligands, antibodies, therapeutic, and diagnostic macromolecules for enhanced effects. Their high surface-to-volume ratio allows multiple functional groups to attach onto the surface of the particles at constant surface volume. Silicon-, gallium-, indium-, or germanium-based; cadmium-based; and carbon-based QDs have already been used in many applications, such as imaging probes for the engineering of multifunctional nanodevices. Superior properties of QDs make them an excellent system in technology and biotechnology. This book describes electroanalytical applications of QD-based nanobiosensors, including brief information about the synthesis and characterization of QDs and basics of electroanalytical methods, followed by QDs in electrochemical biomimetic sensors, QDs in microchips, inorganic materials doped QDs, QD-based electrochemical DNA biosensors, electroluminescence for biomarker analysis using aptamer-based QDs, QD-based photoelectrochemical techniques, enzyme-based nanobiosensors using QDs, QD-based electrochemical immunosensors, and QD-modified nanosensors in drug analysis.

High-strength materials offer alternatives to frequently used materials for high-rise construction. A material of higher strength means a smaller member size is required to resist the design load. However, high-strength concrete is brittle, and high-strength thin steel plates are prone to local buckling. A solution to overcome such problems is to adopt a steel-concrete composite design in which concrete provides lateral restraint to steel plates against local buckling, and steel plates provide confinement to high-strength concrete. Design of Steel-Concrete Composite Structures Using High Strength Materials provides guidance on the design of composite steel-concrete structures using combined high-strength concretes and steels. The book includes a database of over 2,500 test results on composite columns to evaluate design methods, and presents calculations to determine critical parameters affecting the strength and ductility of high-strength composite columns. Finally, the book proposes design methods for axial-moment interaction curves in composite columns. This allows a unified approach to the design of columns with normal- and high-strength steel concrete materials. This book offers civil engineers, structural engineers, and researchers studying the mechanical performance of composite structures in the use of high-strength materials to design and construct advanced tall buildings.

Dielectric Metamaterials and Metasurfaces in Transformation Optics and Photonics addresses the complexity of electromagnetic responses from arrays of dielectric resonators, which are often omitted from consideration when using simplified metamaterials concepts. The book's authors present a thorough consideration of dielectric resonances in different environments which is needed to design optical and photonic devices. Dielectric metamaterials and photonic crystals are compared, with their effects analyzed. Design approaches and examples of designs for invisibility cloaks based on artificial media are also included. Current challenge of incorporating artificial materials into transformation optics-based and photonics devices are also covered.

Cemented Carbides describes all aspects related to the fabrication and examination of cemented carbides, starting from the production of raw materials and ending with final operations of surface finishing and coating. Basic phase diagrams of WC-based cemented carbides are presented and analyzed. Technological processes and equipment employed on different stages of the cemented carbide manufacture, including milling, granulation, pressing, sintering, surface finishing and deposing wear-resistant coatings are described, as well as modern techniques and instruments employed for controlling the microstructure and properties of cemented carbide.

Titanium Alloys for Biomedical Development and Applications: Design, Microstructure, Properties and Application systematically introduces basic theories and progress in the research of biomedical ss-Ti alloys achieved by researchers from different fields. It focuses on a high-strength and low elastic modulus biomedical ss-Ti alloy (TLM), etc. designed by the authors. The alloy design methods, microstructural characteristics, mechanical properties, surface treatment methods and biocompatibility of the TLM alloy are discussed in detail, along with a concise description of the medical devices made from this alloy and the application examples. This book will appeal to researchers as well as students from different disciplines, including materials science, biology, medicine and engineering fields.

Nanomaterials for Electrocatalysis provides an overview of the different types of nanomaterials, design principles and synthesis protocols used for electrocatalytic reactions. The book is divided into four parts that thoroughly describe basic principles and fundamental of electrocatalysis, different types of nanomaterials used, and their electrocatalytic applications, limitations and future perspectives. As electrochemical systems containing nanomaterials, with relevance to experimental situation, yield better results, this book highlights new information and findings.