This book offers a comprehensive treatment of the molecular design, characterization, and physical chemistry of soft interfaces. At the same time, the book aims to encourage the fabrication of functional materials including biomaterials. During the past few decades there has been steady growth in soft-interface science, and that growth has been especially rapid in the twenty-first century. The field is interdisciplinary because it involves chemistry, polymer science, materials science, physical chemistry, and biology. Based on the increasing interdisciplinary nature of undergraduate and graduate programs, the primary goal of this present work is to serve as a comprehensive resource for senior-level undergraduates and for graduate students, particularly in polymer chemistry, materials science, bioconjugate chemistry, bioengineering, and biomaterials. Additionally, with the growing interest in the fabrication of functional soft materials, this book provides essential fundamental information for researchers not only in academia but also in industry.

This comprehensive volume provides current, state-of-the-art information on specialty polymers that can be used for many advanced applications. The book covers the fundamentals of specialty polymers, synthetic approaches, and chemistries to modify their properties to meet the requirements for special applications, along with current challenges and prospects. Chapters are written by global experts, making this a suitable textbook for students and a one-stop resource for researchers and industry professionals. Key Features: - Presents synthesis, characterization, and applications of specialty polymers for advanced applications. - Provides fundamentals and requirements for polymers to be used in many advanced and emerging areas. - Details novel methods and advanced technologies used in polymer industries. - Covers the state-of-the-art progress on specialty polymers for a range of advanced applications.

Polyoxometalates are anionic metal-oxo nanoclusters, which constitute a unique class of compounds owing to their rich solution equilibria and their unique compositional, electronic, reactive, and structural diversity. This book reviews metal-oxide cluster chemistry by covering topics ranging from fundamental aspects (i.e., structure, properties, self-assembly processes, derivatization) to functional materials that incorporate these molecular units, as well as their applications in the fields of current socioeconomic interest, such as energy storage systems, catalysis, molecular electronics, and biomedicine. Edited by prominent researchers in the field of polymer and polyoxometalate chemistries, the book compiles contributions from some of the most distinguished and promising scientists worldwide in such a way that it will appeal to a general readership involved in research areas related to chemistry and materials science.

Thanks to their unique properties, chitosan and chitosan-based materials have numerous applications in the field of biomedicine, especially in drug delivery. This book examines biomedical applications of functional chitosan, exploring the various functions and applications in the development of chitosan-based biomaterials. It also describes the chemical structure of chitosan and discusses the relationship between their structure and functions, providing a theoretical basis for the design of biomaterials. Lastly, it reviews chemically modified and composite materials of chitin and chitosan derivatives for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and gene delivery.

Provides description of functional foams, their manufacturing methods, properties, and applications Covers various blowing agents, greener methods for foaming, and emerging applicability Illustrates comparative information regarding polymeric foams and recent developments with polymer nanocomposite foams Includes applications in mechanical, civil, biomedical, food packaging, electronics, health care industry, and acoustics fields Reviews elastomeric foams and their nanocomposite derivatives

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.

Environmentally compatible polymers (green polymers) are the key to sustainable developments for our rich and convenient life. In order to develop green polymers, it is essential to understand that nature constructs a variety of materials that can be used. Plant materials such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are the largest organic resources.
Thermal Properties of Green Polymers and Biocomposites is unique in that it introduces thermal analysis applicable to green polymers and provides fundamental thermal properties of cellulose, polysaccharides and lignin. The book includes over 370 figures concerning thermal properties of green polymers with detailed experimental conditions. It also introduces newly patented environmentally compatible green polymers. Thermal properties provided include: thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanometry (TMA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).
This book covers two domains:

-Fundamentals of thermal properties of cellulose, polysaccharides and lignin (Chapters 3 to 5);

-Developments of new biocompatible polymers derived from plant materials (Chapters 6 to 8). This book is aimed at advanced users and specialists who are interested in green polymers and who utilize thermal analyses for the above polymers, especially in research laboratories, both academic and industrial.

This book covers a wide range of topics in polymer rheology. These are: Basic Principles, parameters, systems and applied mathematical models used in the rheological studies Melt flow analysis of different non-Newtonian fluids in laminar flow, transition between laminar and turbulent flow and modified Reynolds number The effects of different physical and molecular parameters on purely viscous rheological response of polymer melts and solutions Principles of rheometery and different types of viscometers and on-line rheometers The static and dynamic viscoelastic response of the polymer melts and solutions, viscoelasticity, mechanical models and Boltzmann superposition principle Molecular structure - viscoelasticity relationship and linear and non-linear viscoelasticity Effects of different processes, materials parameters like temperature, fillers (micro and nano-fillers) and molecular parameters like MW, MWD The role of rheology in polymer processing in different equipment Modified power law constants and two range power law constants for a large number of polymers, rheology software program in Java, comparison of different polymer rheological models using the rheology software and answers to the problems The book will be very useful to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as teachers and practicing rheologists.

Thisbook continuesthe tradition ofproviding the scientificcommunity with infonnation on some ofthe most important advances reported at aseries ofconferences on Frontiers ofPolymers and Advanced Materials. The particular meeting covered in this proceedings volume was held in KualaLumpur, Malaysia, from January 16th through the 20th, 1995. It follows earlier proceedings, also published by Plenum, for a conference in New Delhi in 1991, and another in Jakarta in 1993. All of these conferences focused on the most recent and important advances in a wide range of carefully chosen subject areas dealing with advanced materials and new technologies. TheMalaysiaConference was organized by the Malaysian MinistryofScience, Technology and Environment; Malaysian Industry-Government Group for Higher Technology; Standards and Industrial Research Institute ofMalaysia; State University ofNew York at Buffalo; and Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association. The stated goals ofthe conference were: To highlight advances and new findings in Polymers and Advanced Materials To bring together leading international scientists, engineers and top level industrial managementfor discussionsonthe CUTTent status ofadvanced materials, new technologies and industrial opportunities To foster global communication in polymers and advanced materials technology. Tbe Malaysianconferencecoveredbytheseproceedingsemphasized"composites and blends," ''high-performance materials," ''materials for photonics," ''materials for electronics," ''biomaterials'', "recycling of materials," "sol-gel and processed materials," "advanced materials from natural products," and ''multifunctional and smart materials." There was also a separate symposium on ''business opportunities.""

This book reviews the development of antifouling surfaces and materials for both land and marine environments, with an emphasis on marine anti biofouling. It explains the differences and intrinsic relationship between antifouling in land and marine environments, which are based on superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity respectively. It covers various topics including biomimetic antifouling and self-cleaning surfaces, grafted polymer brushes and micro/nanostructure surfaces with antifouling properties, as well as marine anti biofouling. Marine anti biofouling includes both historical biocidal compounds (tributyltin, copper and zinc) and current green, non-toxic antifouling strategies. This book is intended for those readers who are interested in grasping the fundamentals and applications of antifouling. Feng Zhou is a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

There is increasing interest in the area of protective vests, either for protection against bullets or protection from the most realistic threats within domestic frontline operations: edged weapon, knives, and medical needles. This volume addresses that need. This new book provides an in-depth survey of the state-of-the-art research and practical techniques in the area of protected fabrics, especially stab-resistant and bulletproof fabrics. The book covers: * The history of protective armor: the long history of the art of protective armor manufacturing. * Materials used for body armor: the design and materials used for soft armor to increase its perforation-resistance utilizing high-performance fibers. * Anti-stab and anti-bullet armor design: the different design parameters required for the design of flexible armor in order to stop high-velocity projectiles. * The comfort of the body armor design: the flexibility, thermal resistivity, and evaporative moisture resistivity through the fabric. * Methods of testing the flexible body armors: testing the components of flexible body armor, according to the level of the protection required, such as NIJ Standards, HOSDB Body Armour Standards for UK Police, and the German SK1 Standard, among others. Written by an expert in textile composite material engineering, this volume fills an important gap in the area of protective fabric against stabbing or bullets and provides invaluable practical knowledge for body armor design.

This book provides an introduction of how radiation is processed in polymeric materials, how materials properties are affected and how the resulting materials are analyzed. It covers synthesis, characterization, or modification of important materials, e.g. polycarbonates, polyamides and polysaccharides, using radiation. For example, a complete chapter is dedicated to the characterization of biodegradable polymers irradiated with low and heavy ions. This book will be beneficial to all polymer scientists in the development of new macromolecules and to all engineers using these materials in applications. It summarizes the fundamental knowledge and latest innovations in research fields from medicine to space.

During the past fifteen years commercial interest in compounds containing carbon fluorine bonds has burgeoned beyond all expectations, mainly owing to business opportunities arising from work on biologically active fluoroorganics-particularly agrochemicals, the relentless search for new markets for fluoropolymers and fluoro carbon fluids, developments in the field of medical diagnostics, and the drive to find replacements for ozone-depleting CFCs and Halon fire-extinguishing agents. Judging the situation to warrant the publication of a comprehensive collection of up-to-date reviews dealing with commercial organofluorine compounds within a single volume of manageable size (and hence reasonable cost), we were delighted to be invited by Plenum Publishing Corporation to produce a suitable book. In order to provide an authentic and wide-ranging account of current commercial applications of fluoroorganic materials, it clearly was necessary to assemble a sizeable team of knowledgeable contributing authors selected almost entirely from industry. Through their efforts we have been able to produce an almost complete coverage of the modem organofluorochemicals business in a manner designed to attract a reader ship ranging from experts in the field, through chemists and technologists currently unaware of the extent of industrial involvement with fluoroorganics, to students of applied chemistry. Promised chapters dedicated to perfluoroolefin oxides and 18F labeling of radiopharmaceuticals failed to materialize. This is somewhat unfortunate in view of our aim to achieve comprehensive coverage of the subject."

Constitutive Models for Rubber XII is a comprehensive compilation of the oral and poster contributions to the XII European Conference on Constitutive Models for Rubbers (Milan, Italy, 7-9 September 2022). As the first after the COVID Pandemic, the XII edition again brought together researchers from the industry and the academia working in the field of elastomer technology and science to discuss the most recent advancement in the following topics: * Constitutive models * Micro-structural investigations * Experimental methods and characterization * Numerical methods * Fatigue and fracture * Aging * Industrial applications * Smart elastomer materials: applications and modelling Including more than 80 contributions from authors from around the world, this book aims at professionals and academics interested in elastomer technology and science.

This comprehensive and authoritative book aims to encompass the best and current practices in the field of contemporary food packaging. It covers various aspects of packaging, including challenges and their solutions, innovations, and environmental concerns. Written by experts working in the field, the content is supported by technical/statistical data, practical examples, case studies, and real-life experiences of academicians and professionals working in the area of food packaging. The book covers challenges in food packaging, systems and materials for packaging, packaging design requirements of the food industry, technology machinery and system, printing and graphics, testing and regulatory aspects, advanced and smart packaging, distribution and logistics in a globalized environment, and sustainable and green packaging. This book will be useful for Packaging Technologists, food scientists, material scientists, policy makers, students, and researchers.

In recent years, inorganic polymers have attracted much attention in nano-biomedicine, in particular in the area of regenerative medicine and drug delivery. This growing interest in inorganic polymers has been further accelerated by the development of new synthetic and analytical methods in the field of nanotechnology and nanochemistry. Examples for biomedical inorganic polymers that had been proven to exhibit biomedical effects and/or have been applied in preclinical or clinical trials are polysilicate / silica glass (such as naturally formed "biosilica" and synthetic "bioglass") and inorganic polyphosphate. Some members of the mentioned biomedical inorganic polymers have already been applied e.g. as "bioglass" for bone repair and bone tissue engineering, or they are used in food processing and in dental care (inorganic polyphosphates). However, there are a number of further biological and medicinal properties of these polymers, which have been elucidated in the last few years but not yet been applied for treatment of humans. In addition to polysilicates and polyphosphate, there are a series of other inorganic polymers including polyarsenate and polyvanadate, whose biological / biomedical properties have been only marginally studied so far. Moreover, the combined application of inorganic polymers and organic polymeric molecules (formation of organic-inorganic hybrid materials) provides a variety of new materials with novel property combinations and diverse applications in nanomedicine. The planned book summarizes the present state of knowledge on a large group of inorganic polymers that had hitherto been mainly considered with regard to their chemistry but not comprehensively reviewed with respect to their potential biomedical applications.

This book provides knowledge of the basic theory, spectral analysis methods, chemometrics, instrumentation, and applications of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy-not as a handbook but rather as a sourcebook of NIR spectroscopy. Thus, some emphasis is placed on the description of basic knowledge that is important in learning and using NIR spectroscopy. The book also deals with applications for a variety of research fields that are very useful for a wide range of readers from graduate students to scientists and engineers in both academia and industry. For readers who are novices in NIR spectroscopy, this book provides a good introduction, and for those who already are familiar with the field it affords an excellent means of strengthening their knowledge about NIR spectroscopy and keeping abreast of recent developments.

Polymer Electrolytes and their Composites for Energy Storage/Conversion Devices presents a state-of-the-art overview of the research and development in the use of polymers as electrolyte materials for various applications. It covers types of polymer electrolytes, ion dynamics, and the role of dielectric parameters and a review of applications. Divided into two parts, the first part of the book focuses on the types of polymer electrolytes, ion dynamics, and the role of dielectric parameters, while the second part provides a critical review of applications based on polymer electrolytes and their composites. This book: Presents the fundamentals of polymer composites for energy storage/conversion devices Explores the ion dynamics and dielectric properties role in polymer electrolytes Provides detailed preparation methods and important characterization techniques to evaluate the electrolyte potential Reviews analysis of current updates in polymer electrolytes Includes various applications in supercapacitor, battery, fuel cell, and electrochromic windows The book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in physics, materials science, chemistry, materials engineering, energy storage, engineering physics, and industry.

Most photovoltaic (PV) installations utilise heavy conventional glass or polycarbonate panels, and even newly developed thin plastic or metal films for PV cell use may fracture during both construction and application. Textile fabrics, the most widespread flexible materials in everyday use, offer a solution to the need for lightweight, flexible solar PV generators. Solar Textiles: The Flexible Solution for Solar Power is about the incorporation and operation of solar cells on textile fabrics. The combination of textile manufacturing and solar PV cell technology opens up further avenues for both the textile and semiconductor industries. Thus, this book reflects the progressively increasing commercial interest in PV cell technology and the versatility that their integration in textiles provides. Discusses textiles as electrical substrates Explains the photovoltaic effect and associated parameters Offers special consideration of solar cells on textiles Compares fibres and fabrics and how to implement PV activity on a textile Describes manufacturing methods outside of semiconductor technology Includes applications open only to textiles This work is aimed at textile technologists, electronic engineers, solar technologists, civil engineers and designers in building fabrics and architecture.

Biomaterials science has advanced dramatically in the past 50 years with the increased cooperation between engineers chemists and biologists. Whilst previously biomaterials may have been erroneously thought to encompass dressing materials or implant structures designed to replace damaged or diseased tissue, the range of clinical applications of these materials is immense. Truly "Smart" biomaterials, which have the ability to recognise, respond to and even record their environment, now exist. The presentations in this volume reflect the true inter-disciplinary nature of biomaterials science; with contributions from polymer chemists, engineers, biologists and clinicians. The presentations show the potential of these collaborations and describe how advanced biomaterials have and are being employed not only in theraputic applications, but also increasingly in diagnosis and treatment in medical science.

This review book focuses on the structure-property relationships of polyurethane nanocomposite foams in comparison with those of conventional polyurethane composite foams. The thermal insulation properties of polyurethane foam nanocomposites are discussed along with other traits such as their morphology, mechanical and thermomechanical properties, thermal degradation and flammability, energy absorption and saving capability, recycling and recovery behavior. In turn, the book discusses potential applications of PU nanocomposite foams and outlines the main problems that remain to be solved with regard to this important topic.

Provides up-to-date information and research on graphene-rubber nanocomposites Presents a detailed account of the different niche applications ranging from sensors, flexible electronics to thermal, and EMI shielding materials Offers a comprehensive know-how on the structure-property relationship of graphene-rubber nanocomposites Covers the characterization of graphene-based elastomeric composition Delivers a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the graphene, including its chemical modification for usage in elastomer composites

This book summarizes the latest knowledge in the science and technology of ionic liquids and polymers in different areas. Ionic liquids (IL) are actively being investigated in polymer science and technology for a number of different applications. In the first part of the book the authors present the particular properties of ionic liquids as speciality solvents. The state-of-the art in the use of ionic liquids in polymer synthesis and modification reactions including polymer recycling is outlined. The second part focuses on the use of ionic liquids as speciality additives such as plasticizers or antistatic agents. The third part examines the use of ionic liquids in the design of functional polymers (usually called polymeric ionic liquids (PIL) or poly(ionic liquids)). Many important applications in diverse scientific and industrial areas rely on these polymers, like polymer electrolytes in electrochemical devices, building blocks in materials science, nanocomposites, gas membranes, innovative anion sensitive materials, smart surfaces, and a countless set range of emerging applications in different fields such as energy, optoelectronics, analytical chemistry, biotechnology, nanomedicine or catalysis.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned. Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students