Off-shell science deals with the quantum field in which the dispersion relation between energy and momentum is invalid. A typical example of such the quantum field is the dressed photon (DP) that creates by the interaction among photons, electrons, and phonons in a nano-particle. This field is complementary to the on-shell quantum field (photons in a macroscopic space). Off-Shell Applications in Nanophotonics: Dressed Photon Science and Technology reviews the experimental/theoretical studies and shows the route that should be taken to establish off-shell science in the future. A variety of phenomena originate from the DP, and phenomena analogous to them have been found among physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. This indicates that off-shell quantum fields are universal and essential constituent elements of nature. By noting this, readers will be able to use off-shell science to develop new technologies. This book presents i) the reasons why the off-shell scientific theory is required, ii) the nature of the dressed photon by presenting experimental results, iii) tentative theoretical description of the dressed photon, iv) disruptive innovations (nano-optical devices, nano-fabrication technology, energy conversion technology, and silicon light-emitting diodes/lasers), and v) genuine theoretical approaches (based on spatio-temporal vortex hydrodynamics, quantum probability, quantum measurement, and micro-macro duality). It will appeal to materials scientists, engineers and physicists working in the areas of optics and photonics.

Civil Engineering Materials: From Theory to Practice presents the state-of-the-art in civil engineering materials, including the fundamental theory of materials needed for civil engineering projects and unique insights from decades of large-scale construction in China. The title includes the latest advances in new materials and techniques for civil engineering, showing the relationship between composition, structure and properties, and covering ultra-high-performance concrete and self-compacting concrete developed in China. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the most commonly used, most advanced materials for use in civil engineering. This volume consists of eight chapters covering the fundamentals of materials, inorganic cementing materials, Portland cement concrete, bricks, blocks and building mortar, metal, wood, asphalt and polymers.

Nano Tools and Devices for Enhanced Renewable Energy addresses key challenges faced in major energy sectors as the world strives for more affordable and renewable energy sources. The book collates and discusses the latest innovations in nanotechnology for energy applications, providing a comprehensive single resource for those interested in renewable energy. Chapters cover a range of nano tools and devices, as well as renewable energy types and sources, from energy storage to geothermal energy. Materials scientists, engineers and environmental scientists interested in the application and evaluation of innovative nano tools and devices in renewable energy technologies will find this book very valuable. Nanotechnology can help to reduce energy consumption and lessen toxicity burdens on the environment. Despite the rapid growth of development and use of nanotechnology in the modern world, there are still challenges faced by researchers and development groups in industry and academia. This book helps solve the problems of reduced accessibility of relevant research, presenting important information on adverse impacts on the environment, human health, safety and sustainability.

Advances in Thermal Energy Storage Systems, 2nd edition, presents a fully updated comprehensive analysis of thermal energy storage systems (TES) including all major advances and developments since the first edition published. This very successful publication provides readers with all the information related to TES in one resource, along with a variety of applications across the energy/power and construction sectors, as well as, new to this edition, the transport industry. After an introduction to TES systems, editor Dr. Prof. Luisa Cabeza and her team of expert authors consider the source, design and operation of the use of water, molten salts, concrete, aquifers, boreholes and a variety of phase-change materials for TES systems, before analyzing and simulating underground TES systems. This edition benefits from 5 new chapters covering the most advanced technologies including sorption systems, thermodynamic and dynamic modelling as well as applications to the transport industry and the environmental and economic aspects of TES. It will benefit researchers and academics of energy systems and thermal energy storage, construction engineering academics, engineers and practitioners in the energy and power industry, as well as architects of plants and storage systems and R&D managers.

Green Biocomposites for Biomedical Engineering: Design, Properties, and Applications combines emergent research outcomes with fundamental theoretical concepts relevant to processing, properties and applications of advanced green composites in the field of biomedical engineering. The book outlines the design elements and characterization of biocomposites, highlighting each class of biocomposite separately. A broad range of biomedical applications for biocomposites is then covered, with a final section discussing the ethics and safety regulations associated with manufacturing and the use of biocomposites. With contributions from eminent editors and recognized authors around the world, this book is a vital reference for researchers in biomedical engineering, materials science and environmental science, both in industry and academia.

Dielectric Spectroscopy of Electronic Materials: Applied Physics of Dielectrics incorporates the results of four decades of research and applications of dielectric spectroscopy for solids, mostly for the investigation of materials used in electronics. The book differs from others by more detailed analysis of the features of dielectric spectra conditioned by specific mechanisms of electrical polarization and conductivity. Some original methods are presented in the simulation of frequency distributions (relaxers and oscillators), with methods proposed for various ferroelectrics frequency-temperature dielectric spectra. Also described are original methods for ferroelectrics on microwaves investigation, including the features of thin films study. The book is not burdened by complex mathematical proofs and should help readers quickly understand how to apply dielectric spectroscopy methods to their own research problems. More advanced readers may also find this book valuable as a review of the key concepts and latest advances on the topics presented.

This book focuses on the application of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers in traditional concretes based on Portland cement. Fundamental information is given related to the production technologies of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, as well as concretes and methods of incorporation. It also contains a section focusing on the possible negative effects of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers on animals and humans. The book indicates benefits and possible problems related to the application of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers in concrete. It is designed to be easy to access and digest for the reader, aiming to reach an audience, not only from academia, but also from the construction industry, materials producers, and contractors who might work with nanomaterials.

Generation of Polymers and Nanomaterials at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces: Application to Crystalline, Light Emitting, and Energy Materials, Second Edition is an innovative guide to the synthesis and processing of materials through liquid-liquid interfaces. This second edition has been revised and expanded, with a new chapter on light emitting materials and increased emphasis towards applications. The book aims to highlight the versatility of the interface between two liquids, providing a unique environment for synthesizing materials with highly tuned, desirable properties. In this revised and expanded second edition, the advanced applications of the synthesized materials and the two-phase systems are highlighted, with real potential within flexible electronics, energy storage, enhanced oil recovery, and sensors. This is supported by detailed coverage of interfacial processes and the fundamental physical chemistry behind them. The first two chapters provide an overview of interfaces in natural and biological systems, and outline the fundamental properties of the interface. Chapters 3 and 4 are devoted to the synthesis and self-organization of nanoparticles and polymers through interfacial systems. The synthesis of conductive, fluorescent and conventional polymers and their properties are extensively covered. Chapters 5 and 6 focus on novel applications. This book is of interest to researchers, scientists, and advanced students, in polymer synthesis, polymer chemistry, polymer science, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, polymer composites, materials science, energy, flexible electronics, and chemical engineering. In industry, this supports scientists, R&D, and other professionals, working with polymeric materials for applications in energy, electronics, sensors, and oil & gas.

The Effect of Long Term Thermal Exposure on Plastics and Elastomers, Second Edition brings together a wide range of essential data on the effect of long-term thermal exposure on plastics and elastomers, enabling engineers to make optimal material choices and design decisions. This second edition has been thoroughly revised to include the latest data and materials. This highly valuable handbook will support engineers, product designers, R&D professionals, and scientists who are working on plastics products or parts for high temperature environments across a range of industries. This readily available data will make it easy for practitioners to learn about plastic materials and their long- term thermal exposure without having to search the general literature or depend on suppliers. This book will also be of interest to researchers and advanced students in plastics engineering, polymer processing, coatings, and materials science and engineering.

Nanomagnetic Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Application explores recent studies of conventional nanomagnetic materials in spintronics, data storage, magnetic sensors and biomedical applications. In addition, the book also reviews novel magnetic characteristics induced in two-dimensional materials, diamonds, and those induced by the artificial formation of lattice defect and heterojunction as novel nanomagnetic materials. Nanomagnetic materials are usually based on d- and f-electron systems. They are an important solution to the demand for higher density of information storage, arising from the emergence of novel technologies required for non-volatile memory systems. Advances in the understanding of magnetization dynamics and in the characteristics of nanoparticles or surface of nanomagnetic materials is resulting in greater expansion of applications of nanomagnetic materials, including in biotechnology, sensor devices, energy harvesting, and power generating systems. This book provides a cogent overview of the latest research on novel nanomagnetic materials, including spintronic nanomagnets, molecular nanomagnets, self-assembling magnetic nanomaterials, nanoparticles, multifunctional materials, and heterojunction-induced novel magnetism.

Nanomedicine explores the modification and enhancement of the properties and performances of typical drugs to treat various diseases. Nano-based medicines have advantages in several ways, such as in nanotherapeutics, nanotheranostics, and nanodiagnostics. Nanomedicine Manufacturing and Applications effectively explores the major manufacturing techniques and applications of nanomaterial-based medicine in the areas of chemotherapy, biochips, insulin pumps, and other treatment methods. This book explains how nanomedicines are developed from nanoparticles as well as their biomedical and other applications related to healthcare. This book is an important reference source for nanoscientists, biomaterials scientists, and biomedical engineers who want to learn more about how nano-based medicines are made and used.

Structured Light for Optical Communication highlights principles and applications in the rapidly evolving field of structured light in wide-ranging contexts, from classical forms of communication to new frontiers of quantum communication. Besides the basic principles and applications, the book covers the background of structured light in its most common forms, as well as state-of-the-art developments. Structured light has been hailed as affording outstanding prospects for the realization of high bandwidth communication, enhanced tools for more highly secure cryptography, and exciting opportunities for providing a reliable platform for quantum computing. This book is a valuable resource for graduate students and other active researchers, as well as others who may be interested in learning about this cutting-edge research field.

Handbook of Fillers, Fifth Edition discusses the rapidly advancing field of fillers, the substances added to plastics and composites that add value by improving and modifying the properties of materials and reducing costs. This new edition is an essential reference for engineers and scientists using fillers in a range of materials, including plastics, rubber, adhesives, and paper. Designed to be a comprehensive reference for both experienced practitioners and those new to the field, it covers available fillers and their properties, their effect on filled materials, their rheology and flammability, recycling considerations, and their use in practical applications. The book offers a direct comparison of general-purpose fillers (micron-size fillers) and nanofillers. The first section covers the grades of fillers available in the world market, dividing them into eight groups and analyzing their properties, applications, and sources. The second section discusses the effects of filler incorporation with ten chapters covering the mechanical properties of compounded materials, the effect of the filler on the material rheology, the morphology of the filled system, the material durability, flammability and recycling, the structure of interphase, chemical interphase, chemical interactions, interaction with and effect on other additive, fillers use in material compounds, and the analytical methods of testing fillers and filled materials. The final section is devoted to the application of fillers on an industrial scale. Filler transportation, storage, processing, and equipment used for these purposes are discussed, as are quality control of fillers, formulation with fillers, different processing methods, and health and safety issues.

Eco-efficient Materials for Reducing Cooling Needs in Buildings and Construction: Design, Properties and Applications provides a comprehensive review on building envelope materials and technologies for reducing cooling needs in buildings. The book offers in-depth analysis of the performance of new innovative materials and technologies used in pavements, facade and roofing materials, PCMs and chromogenic smart materials. Includes practical case study examples of their applications in building and construction. The book is an essential reference resource for researchers, architects and civil engineers, city planners, product developers, manufacturers, and other professionals working in eco-efficient cooling materials and sustainable and zero-energy building design.

Molecular Imprinted Polymer Composites: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications covers the design of composite materials containing nanostructures and molecular imprinted polymers that has materialized the ever-sought out vision of homogeneous molecular imprinted polymers. The inherent high surface-to-volume ratio of nanostructures has served well in increasing the surface area of conventional bulk polymers. In recent decades, molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposite materials have attracted much attention for their potential applications in the fields of separation science, sensing, drug delivery, waste water treatment and catalysis, hence this book provides a much needed update on progress.

Polymer-Based Advanced Functional Composites for Optoelectronic and Energy Applications explains how polymer-based smart composites and nanocomposites can be prepared and utilized for novel optical, sensor and energy-related applications. The book begins with an introductory section on the fundamentals of smart polymer composites, including structure-property relationships and conjugated polymers. Other sections examine optical applications, including the use of polymer-based smart composites for luminescent solar concentrators, electro-chromic applications, light conversion applications, ultraviolet shielding applications, LED encapsulation applications, sensor applications, including gas-sensing, strain sensing, robotics and tactile sensors, with final sections covering energy-related applications, including energy harvesting, conversion, storage, vibrational energy harvesting, and more. This is an essential guide for researchers, scientists and advanced students in smart polymers and materials, polymer science, composites, nanocomposites, electronics and materials science. It is also a valuable book for scientists, R&D professionals and engineers working with products that could utilize smart polymer composites.

Waste and By-Products in Cement-Based Materials: Innovative Sustainable Materials for a Circular Economy covers various recycled materials, by-products and wastes that are suitable for the manufacture of materials within the spectrum of so-called cement-based materials (CBM). Sections cover wastes for replacement of aggregates in CBM, focus on the application of wastes for the replacement of clinker and mineral additions in the manufacture of binders, discuss the optimization process surrounding the manufacture of recycled concrete and mortars, multi-recycling, advanced radiological studies, optimization of self-compacting concrete, rheology properties, corrosion prevention, and more. Final sections includes a review of real-scale applications that have been made in recent years of cement-based materials in roads, railway superstructures, buildings and civil works, among others, as well as a proposal of new regulations to promote the use of waste in the manufacture of CBM.

Nanosensors for Smart Manufacturing provides information on the fundamental design concepts and emerging applications of nanosensors in smart manufacturing processes. In smart production, if the products and machines are integrated, embedded, or equipped with sensors, the system can immediately collect the current operating parameters, predict the product quality, and then feed back the optimal parameters to machines in the production line. In this regard, smart sensors and their wireless networks are important components of smart manufacturing. Nanomaterials-based sensors (nanosensors) offer several advantages over their microscale counterparts, including lower power consumption, fast response time, high sensitivity, lower concentration of analytes, and smaller interaction distance between sensors and products. With the support of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, neural networks, and ambient intelligence, sensor systems have become smarter. This is an important reference source for materials scientists and engineers who want to learn more about how nanoscale sensors can enhance smart manufacturing techniques and processes.

Written by a team of experts, Advances in Flowmeter Technology surveys the full range of modern flowmeters for product managers, strategic planners, engineers, distributors, and students. The origins, principles of operation,controls and instrumentation, and the relative advantages of each major flowmeter type are thoroughly explained. Extensive coverage of new types that employ cutting-edge technologies - such as coriolis, magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, thermal flowmeters - is provided. The text includes comparative examples, placing these new types of meters in the context of more traditional ones, such as differential pressure, turbine, and positive displacement flowmeters.

Chemical Management in Textiles and Fashion helps readers understand current pressures on the textile industry surrounding the responsible management of chemicals. The book was written in response to industrial movements like Greenpeace's Detox Campaign and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals, which have both helped to motivate retailers, manufacturers and regulatory bodies on this issue. Chapters cover the entire supply chain, taking into account the use of chemicals in processing, manufacturing and recycling garments. In addition to environmental sustainability, this valuable resource covers all the main aspects of chemical management, including chemical risk assessments, chemical management systems, and lifecycle assessment. While providing a survey of the latest regulations and standards on chemical management, this book also examines emerging green alternatives to help readers find innovative solutions for sustainable chemical processes.

Heterogeneous Media: Local Fields, Effective Properties, and Wave Propagation outlines new computational methods for solving volume integral equation problems in heterogeneous media. The book starts by surveying the various numerical methods of analysis of static and dynamic fields in heterogeneous media, listing their strengths and weaknesses, before moving onto an introduction of static and dynamic green functions for homogeneous media. Volume and surface integral equations for fields in heterogenous media are discussed next, followed by an overview of explicit formulas for numerical calculations of volume and surface potentials. The book then segues into Gaussian functions for discretization of volume integral equations for fields in heterogenous media, static problems for a homogeneous host medium with heterogeneous inclusions, volume integral equations for scattering problems, and concludes with a chapter outlining solutions to homogenization problems and calculations of effective properties of heterogeneous media. The book concludes with multiple appendices that feature the texts of basic programs for solving volume integral equations as written in Mathematica.

Advanced Green Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications of Biopolymers and Biocomposites looks at their extraction, purification, modification, and processing for various industrial, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and construction applications. The book comprehensively summarizes recent technical research accomplishments in natural materials and discusses various aspects of natural materials from a chemistry/engineering point of view. The book is unique with contributions from experts working on hybrid biopolymers and bio- composites, bioactive and biodegradable materials, bio-inert polymers and composites, natural polymer and composites, and metallic natural materials. The book will be a useful reference for scientists, academicians, research scholars, and biotechnologists. Advanced biocomposite materials continue to become increasingly popular and important for a broad range of different science and engineering applications. In the race to exploit the unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of these materials, researchers must also address new challenges to predict, understand, and manage the potentially adverse effects they could have on the environment and human lives. The book describes recent developments and applications of biopolymers and biocomposites for applications in various industrial fields. Chapters include original research and the latest reviews in similar fields. Biopolymers and biocomposites occupy an exceptional position in the exciting new world of novel biomaterials. Considering their sustainability, non-toxic properties, and their ability to have tailored properties and functions, they should be considered as a smart candidate in the advancement of biomaterials technology.