Polyesters are one of the most important class of polymers in use today. Hundreds of polyesters exist although only about a dozen are of commercial significance. Polyesters are ubiquitous materials in modern life and are used in diverse applications from drink bottles and photographic film to shirts and fabrics. This book serves as a comprehensive, up-to-date reference and includes the following sections:

• Historical development

• Polymerization & polycondensation

• Polyester types

• Fibers, compounds and modifying additives

• Depolymerization & degradation

• Liquid crystal polyesters

• Unsaturated polyesters

Comprehensive coverage of polyester resins with an emphasis on their structure-property relationships is provided. Polyester types covered in detail include: PET, PET copolymers, PCT, PCTG, PCTA, PBT, PEN, PTT, cyclic polyester oligomers, LCP and UP's. The latest advances in polyesters are described along with current and emerging application areas.

This work contains more than 20 contributions with experts from both academia and industry from North America, Europe, the Far East and Australia.

An essential book for plastics engineers, polymer chemists, material scientists and those working in the plastics manufacturing and processing industries that deal with polyester resins.

Tribology of Polymers, Polymer Composites, and Polymer Nanocomposites combines fundamental knowledge with the latest findings in the area of polymer tribology. From testing of property-related mechanisms to prediction of wear using artificial neural networks, the book explores all relevant polymer types, including elastomers, epoxy-based, nylon, and more while also discussing their different types of reinforcement, such as particulates, short fibers, natural fibers, and beyond. New developments in sustainable materials, environmental effects, nanoscaled fillers, and self-lubrication are each discussed, as are applications of these materials, guidelines for when to use certain polymer systems, and functional groups of polymers. Experimental methods and modeling and prediction techniques are also outlined. The tribology of graphene-based, biodegradable, hybrid nanofiller/polymer nanocomposites and other types of polymers is discussed at length.

Plastics to Energy: Fuel, Chemicals, and Sustainability Implications covers important trends in the science and technology of polymer recovery, such as the thermo-chemical treatment of plastics, the impact of environmental degradation on mechanical recycling, incineration and thermal unit design, and new options in biodegradable plastics. The book also introduces product development opportunities from waste materials and discusses the main processes and pathways of the conversion of polymeric materials to energy, fuel and chemicals. A particular focus is placed on industrial case studies and academic reviews, providing a practical emphasis that enables plastics practitioners involved in end-of-life aspects to employ these processes. Final sections examine lifecycle and cost analysis of different plastic waste management processes, exploring the potential of various techniques in modelling, optimization and simulation of waste management options.

The Effect of Temperature and Other Factors on the Properties of Plastics and Elastomers, Fourth Edition provides data on the wide spectrum of plastics and TPEs with special reference to thermal stability. The mechanical, physical and electrical properties of plastics and elastomers are described as a function of temperature and humidity to help with the design of lighter more cost-effective plastic parts to replace metal ones. In this new edition, expertly edited data makes it easy for readers to learn about the properties of plastic materials without having to search the general literature or depend on suppliers. Additional types of plastics are examined, and the latest data on material characteristics are provided. Complex details such as how the thermal prehistory can effect final mechanical properties, and how temperature scans reveal dynamic mechanical behavior are also examined to build a deeper understanding of the materials.

Polymeric materials offer a high level of versatility due to the range of applications possible within the biomedical and clinical fields - including wound closure - particularly in comparison to metals or ceramics. These specialised materials also allow for a diverse array of therapeutic effects. Although there have been advances in improving polymeric materials for surgical sutures, there is little information available regarding improving the therapeutic value of sutures, and advanced technologies used to implement this improvement. Advanced Technologies and Polymer Materials for Surgical Sutures provides thorough coverage on suture materials with improved mechanical and therapeutic properties that can improve quality of life; chapter topics include drug-releasing kinetics of sutures, shape memory polymer sutures and future trends. This book is a useful resource for academics and researchers in the materials science and biomedical engineering fields, as well as professionals in biomaterials and biotextiles development and clinicians looking to learn more about suture material properties and suture/body interactions.

Magnetic Nanoferrites and their Composites: Environmental and Biomedical Applications addresses recent developments in this important research field. The book covers the latest synthesis and fabrication techniques, properties, characterization and multifunctional biomedical and environmental applications. Chapters provide cutting-edge research while addressing the latest scenarios, recent developments, future aspects, and challenges and opportunities attributed to their excellent properties, including large surface-to-volume ratio, high chemical stability, low eddy losses, moderate values of saturation magnetization and coercivity, large adsorption, non-toxicity, bio-degradable and biocompatibility. This book will be a valuable reference resource for researchers, engineers and technologists working in this important research field. Magnetic nanoferrites and their composites are now utilized in a broad range of different application fields such as catalysis, biomedicine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tissue targeting, drug delivery, sensors, environmental remediation, data storage, transformers, switching devices, high frequency and microwave devices.

This book focuses on exciting new research in polymer science. The first section of the book deals with new advancements in polymer technology, which includes polymers that are responsible for progress in the field of energy, electronics, and medical sciences. It focuses on the most promising polymer nanocomposites and nanomaterials. Composites are becoming more important because they can help to improve quality of life. The second section of the book highlights this aspect of macromolecules, while the third section emphasizes biopolymers, their development, and applications.

Sustainable Composites for Aerospace Applications presents innovative advances in the fabrication, characterization and applications of LDH polymer nanocomposites. It covers fundamental structural and chemical knowledge and explores various properties and characterization techniques, including microscopic, spectroscopic and mechanical behaviors. Users will find a strong focus on the potential applications of LDH polymer nanocomposites, such as in energy, electronics, electromagnetic shielding, biomedical, agricultural, food packaging and water purification functions. This book provides comprehensive coverage of cutting-edge research in the field of LDH polymer nanocomposites and future applications, and is an essential read for all academics, researchers, engineers and students working in this area.

Advances in Biomedical Polymers and Composites: Materials and Applications is a comprehensive guide to polymers and polymer composites for biomedical applications, bringing together detailed information on their preparation, properties, cutting-edge technologies, innovative materials and key application areas. Sections introduce polymers and composites in biomedical applications and cover characterization techniques, preparation and properties of composites and gel-based systems. Innovative technologies and instruments used in the fabrication of polymer composites for biomedical applications are then presented in detail, including 3D bioprinting, 4D printing, electrospinning, stimuli-responsive polymers and quantum dots. This is a valuable resource for anyone looking to gain a broader understanding of polymers and composites for biomedical applications. In addition, it is ideal for readers who want to conduct interdisciplinary research or explore new avenues for research and development.

Fundamental Biomaterials: Polymers provides current information on findings and developments of biopolymers and their conversion from base materials to medical devices. Chapters analyze the types of polymers and discuss a range of biomedical applications. It is the first title in a three volume set, with each reviewing the most important and commonly used classes of biomaterials and providing comprehensive information on classification, materials properties, behavior, biocompatibility and applications. The book concludes with essential information on wear, lifetime prediction and cytotoxicity of biomaterials. This title will be of use to researchers and professionals in development stages, but will also help medical researchers understand and effectively communicate the requirements of a biomaterial for a specific application. Further, with the recent introduction of a number of interdisciplinary bio-related undergraduate and graduate programs, this book will be an appropriate reference volume for large number of students at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Composites, Third Edition bridges the technology and business aspects of thermoplastics, providing a guide designed to help engineers working in real-world industrial settings. The author explores the criteria for material selection, provides a detailed guide to each family of thermoplastics, and explains the various processing options for each material type. More than 30 families of thermoplastics are described with information on their advantages and drawbacks, special grades, prices, transformation processes, applications, thermal behavior, technological properties (tenacity, friction, dimensional stability), durability (ageing, creep, fatigue), chemical and fire behavior, electrical properties, and joining possibilities. In this third edition, standards and costs have been updated for all materials, and more information on topics such as bioplastics, 3D printing and recycling have been added. In addition, an entirely new chapter on the concept of 'Industry 4.0' has been added, with guidance and suggestions on the incorporation of virtualization, connectivity, and automation into the plastics engineering process to reduce materials and processing failure.

Discover a novel, self-contained approach to an important technical area, providing both theoretical background and practical details. Coverage includes mechanics and physical metallurgy, as well as study of both established and novel procedures such as indentation plastometry. Numerical simulation (FEM modelling) is explored thoroughly, and issues of scale are discussed in depth. Discusses procedures designed to explore plasticity under various conditions, and relates sample responses to deformation mechanisms, including microstructural effects. Features references throughout to industrial processing and component usage conditions, to a wide range of metallic alloys, and to effects of residual stresses, anisotropy and inhomogeneity within samples. A perfect tool for materials scientists, engineers and researchers involved in mechanical testing (of metals), and those involved in the development of novel materials and components.

An introduction to polymers and how they dominate our world
Polymer science is concerned with the structure, synthesis, physical properties, and utility of polymers. Polymers are macromolecular building blocks used to construct natural and man-made materials. Polymers from the Inside Out: An Introduction to Macromolecules provides an all-encompassing introduction to polymers and how they affect the world.

Offering a clear explanation of the unique properties exhibited by polymers, this book explores the detailed microstructures of polymers and their internal responses to stress and the environment. Polymers from the Inside Out appeals to a wide range of disciplines, including polymer, organic, materials, and physical chemistry, as well as textile science and engineering.

Chapters include:

• Physical properties unique to polymeric materials
• Step-growth and chain-growth polymerizations
• Microstructures of polymers
• Conformational characteristics of polymers developed with the rotational isomeric states model
• Solution and bulk properties of polymers
• Biopolymers
• Discussion questions appropriate for first- and second-semester polymer students at the end of every chapter

Polymers from the Inside Out is designed to facilitate either a one-semester or two-semester course on polymers and is an essential resource for the practicing scientist.

Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials for Sensor Applications covers all the important aspects of polymer composite-based sensors, from fundamentals to fabrication. Key chapters focus on the materials used for sensors and their characterization, properties, fabrication and classification. Various applications of polymeric sensors are also discussed in detail. This book is an essential reference resource, not only for the materials scientist, but also for researchers, academics, technologists and students working in the sensor technology industry. In modern society, sensors are used in electronics, food packaging, construction, automobile and aerospace applications. The advancement of smart technologies has increased their usage because of their affordability and reliability. Among the materials used for the fabrication of sensors, polymer composites are the most preferred because they are lightweight, versatile, low cost and easy to process.

Phthalonitrile Resins and Composites: Properties and Applications summarizes the latest research on these polymers, providing information that enables materials scientists and engineers to deploy these polymers in the real world. The book gives details on synthesis and preparation techniques for key phthalonitrile monomers. All curing techniques are discussed, along with blends and copolymers of phthalonitrile with other polymeric materials, such as epoxy, benzoxazine and bismaleimide. Fiber and particle based phthalonitrile micro and nanocomposites are also discussed, along with their potential applications in lightweight automobiles, ships, oil rigs, aircraft, wind blades, high temperature bearings, valves, battery and electronic casings, fire resistant textiles, and more.

Chemical Resistance of Commodity Thermoplastics provides a comprehensive, cross-referenced compilation of chemical resistance data that explains the effect of thousands of reagents, the environment and other exposure media on the properties and characteristics of thermosets- plastics which are used in a range of applications. Specifically, the resistance data in this book covers the following materials, allyl, epoxy, unsaturated polyester resin, unsaturated polyurethane resin, vinyl ester resin, furan resin, polyaminobismaleimide, acrylics, polycyanurates and filled/reinforced thermosets. A huge range of exposure media are included, from aircraft fuel, to alcohol, corn syrup, hydrochloric acid and salt to silver acetate. This book is a must-have reference for engineers and scientists designing and working with thermosets in environments where they come into contact with corrosive or reactive substances, from automotive and aerospace, to coatings, adhesives, electrical insulation, fittings and other applications.

Intended as a practical guide for polymer technologists, engineers and analysts in the plastics, composites and rubber fields, this title describes a range of techniques and strategies for compositional and failure analysis of polymeric materials and products. Numerous examples illustrate the application of analytical methods for solving commonly encountered problems in the polymer industry. The reader is guided towards the most appropriate method of analysis and measurement and the most likely reasons for the failure.

Areas covered include:

• Migration and interaction of additives
• Mechanical stress and stress cracking
• Crazing and fracture
• Residual stress and weld lines
• Contamination and discoloration

Numerous pedagogical methods, illustrative flow diagrams, figures and tables are used throughout the text to make it an invaluable guide to all analysts and polymer engineers in industrial or academic laboratories.

Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy A comprehensive overview of the burgeoning field of biodegradable plastics As the lasting impact of humanity's reliance on plastics comes into focus, scholars have begun to seek out solutions to plastic litter. In Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy, an accomplished team of researchers delivers a focused guide (1) to understand plastic degradation and its role in waste hierarchy besides recycling, and (2) to create and use biodegradable plastics where appropriate. Created preferably from renewable resources, these eco-friendly polymers provide an opportunity to create sustainable and lasting solutions to the growing plastic-driven pollution problem. The broad approach to this handbook allows the authors to cover all aspects of these emerging materials, ranging from the problems present in the current plastics cycle, to the differences in type, production, and chemistry available within these systems, to end-of-life via recycling or degradation, and to life-cycle assessments. It also delves into potential commercial and policy issues to be addressed to successfully deploy this technology. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to biodegradable polymers, focusing not only on the scientific aspects, but also addressing the larger political, commercial, and consumer concerns Mechanisms of biodegradation and the environmental impact of persistent polymers An in-depth discussion of degradable/hydrolysable polyesters, polysaccharides, lignin-based polymers, and vitrimers Management of plastic waste and life cycle assessment of bio-based plastics Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy is the perfect overview of this complicated but essential research field and will appeal to polymer chemists, environmental chemists, chemical engineers, and bioengineers in academia and industry. The book is intended as a step towards a circular plastics economy that relies heavily on degradable plastics to sustain it.

Advanced Applications of Biobased Materials: Food, Biomedical, and Environmental Applications brings together cutting-edge developments in the preparation and application of biobased materials. The book begins by providing an overview of biobased materials, their classification, and their physical and chemical modifications. This is followed by a section covering the latest techniques in fabrication, processing and characterization. Subsequent chapters are grouped by application area, offering insights into advanced and emerging utilizations of biobased materials in food, biomedical and environmental applications. Sections cover lifecycle assessment, circular economy, sustainability, and future potential. This is a valuable resource for researchers, scientists and advanced students across polymer science, sustainable materials, biomaterials, materials chemistry, composite science, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, and environmental science, as well a great book for engineers and R&D with an interest in biobased materials for emerging applications in the areas of biomedicine, food and the environment.

Handbook of Thermoplastic Fluoropolymers: Properties, Characteristics and Data gathers key technical information about structure, characteristics, properties and processing methods of commercial thermoplastic fluoropolymers in one easy reference. Thermoplastic fluoropolymers have many desirable functional characteristics, such as high thermal stability, reliability at high mechanical loads, a wide range of operating temperatures, and high chemical and radiation stability. These characteristics make them crucial in many specialist applications, including in the military, biopharmaceuticals and environmental protection. This uniquely comprehensive guide to this versatile family of polymers will help processors, fabricators and end-users find new and innovative solutions. Detailed coverage of technical details of processing methods, characteristics, and chemical properties of commercial thermoplastic fluoropolymers all in one place make this the most authoritative reference to the subject available.

The Effect of Sterilization Methods on Plastics and Elastomers, Fourth Edition brings together a wide range of essential data on the sterilization of plastics and elastomers, thus enabling engineers to make optimal material choices and design decisions. The data tables in this book enable engineers and scientists to select the right materials and sterilization method for a given product or application. The book is a unique and essential reference for anybody working with plastic materials that are likely to be exposed to sterilization methods, be it in medical device or packaging development, food packaging or other applications.

Repair of Polymer Composites: Methodology, Techniques, and Challenges discusses fundamental issues related to the repair of composites and their suitability in various industrial sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, marine and construction, etc. The repair of composites is complex and requires a thorough understanding of the various types of damage mechanisms in order to apply the appropriate NDT techniques. This book explores these issues in significant detail and presents systematic procedures and methods, thus serving as a useful reference for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic researchers, engineers and other professionals who are interested in this exciting field of research.

Polymers are an important part in everyday life; products made from polymers range from sophisticated articles, such as biomaterials, to aerospace materials. One of the reasons for the great popularity exhibited by polymers is their ease of processing. Polymer properties can be tailored to meet specific needs by varying the "atomic composition" of the repeat structure, by varying molecular weight and by the incorporation (via covalent and non-covalent interactions) of an enormous range of compounds to impart specific activities.

In food science, the use of polymeric materials is widely explored, from both an engineering and a nutraceutical point of view. Regarding the engineering application, researchers have discovered the most suitable materials for intelligent packaging which preserves the food quality and prolongs the shelf-life of the products. Furthermore, in agriculture, specific functionalized polymers are used to increase the efficiency of treatments and reduce the environmental pollution. In the nutraceutical field, because consumers are increasingly conscious of the relationship between diet and health, the consumption of high quality foods has been growing continuously. Different compounds (e.g. high quality proteins, lipids and polysaccharides) are well known to contribute to the enhancement of human health by different mechanisms, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary disease, and hypertension.This first volume, of this two volume book, concerns the application of polymers in food packaging.

The book deals with the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels specifically used as drug delivery systems. Each chapter includes the most recent updates about the different starting materials employed and the improvement of their physicochemical and biological properties to synthetize high performing carriers for specific uses.

Although sintering is an essential process in the manufacture of ceramics and certain metals, as well as several other industrial operations, until now, no single book has treated both the background theory and the practical application of this complex and often delicate procedure. In Sintering Theory and Practice, leading researcher and materials engineer Randall M. German presents a comprehensive treatment of this subject that will be of great use to manufacturers and scientists alike.

This practical guide to sintering considers the fact that while the bonding process improves strength and other engineering properties of the compacted material, inappropriate methods of control may lead to cracking, distortion, and other defects. It provides a working knowledge of sintering, and shows how to avoid problems while accounting for variables such as particle size, maximum temperature, time at that temperature, and other problems that may cause changes in processing.

The book describes the fundamental atomic events that govern the transformation from particles to solid, covers all forms of the sintering process, and provides a summary of many actual production cycles. Building from the ground up, it begins with definitions and progresses to measurement techniques, easing the transition, especially for students, into advanced topics such as single-phase solid-state sintering, microstructure changes, the complications of mixed particles, and pressure-assisted sintering. German draws on some six thousand references to provide a coherent and lucid treatment of the subject, making scientific principles and practical applications accessible to both students and professionals. In the process, he also points out and avoids the pitfalls found in various competing theories, concepts, and mathematical disputes within the field.

A unique opportunity to discover what sintering is all about—both in theory and in practice

What is sintering? We see the end product of this thermal process all around us—in manufactured objects from metals, ceramics, polymers, and many compounds. From a vast professional literature, Sintering Theory and Practice emerges as the only comprehensive, systematic, and self-contained volume on the subject.

Covering all aspects of sintering as a processing topic, including materials, processes, theories, and the overall state of the art, the book

• Offers numerous examples, illustrations, and tables that detail actual processing cycles, and that stress existing knowledge in the field
• Uses the specifics of various consolidation cycles to illustrate the basics
• Leads the reader from the fundamentals to advanced topics, without getting bogged down in various mathematical disputes over treatments and measurements
• Supports the discussion with critically selected references from thousands of sources
• Examines the sintering behavior of a wide variety of engineered materials—metals, alloys, oxide ceramics, composites, carbides, intermetallics, glasses, and polymers
• Guides the reader through the sintering processes for several important industrial materials and demonstrates how to control these processes effectively and improve present techniques
• Provides a helpful reference for specific information on materials, processing problems, and concepts

For practitioners and researchers in ceramics, powder metallurgy, and other areas, and for students and faculty in materials science and engineering, this book provides the know-how and understanding crucial to many industrial operations, offers many ideas for further research, and suggests future applications of this important technology.

This book offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore sintering in both practical and theoretical terms, whether at the lab or in real-world applications, and to acquire a broad, yet thorough, understanding of this important technology.