This book provides comprehensive coverage on the latest developments of research in the ever-expanding area of polymers and advanced materials and their applications to broad scientific fields including physics, chemistry, biology, and materials. It presents physical principles in explaining and rationalizing polymeric phenomena. Featuring classical topics that are conventionally considered as part of chemical technology, the book covers the chemical principles from a modern point of view. It analyzes theories to formulate and prove the polymer principles and offers future outlooks on applications of bioscience in chemical concepts.

This book details original, theoretical, and important experimental results that use non-routine methodologies often unfamiliar to most readers. It also includes papers on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of composite problems. The book provides comprehensive coverage on the latest developments of research in the ever-expanding area of composite materials and their applications to broad scientific fields spanning physics, chemistry, biology, materials, and more.

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

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

This new volume presents leading-edge research in the rapidly changing and evolving field of polymer science as well as on chemical processing. The topics in the book reflect the diversity of research advances in the production and application of modern polymeric materials and related areas, focusing on the preparation, characterization, and applications of polymers. Also covered are various manufacturing techniques. The book helps to fill the gap between theory and practice in industry. The book introduces current state-of-the-art technology in modern materials with an emphasis on the rapidly growing technologies. It takes a unique approach by presenting specific materials and then progresses into a discussion of the ways in which these materials and processes are integrated into today's functioning manufacturing industry. Readers will also discover how material properties relate to the process variables in a given process as well as how to perform quantitative engineering analysis of manufacturing processes.

This book covers a broad range of polymeric materials and provides industry professionals and researchers in polymer science and technology with a single, comprehensive book summarizing all aspects involved in the functional materials production chain. This volume presents the latest developments and trends in advanced polymer materials and structures. It discusses the developments of advanced polymers and respective tools to characterize and predict the material properties and behavior. This book has an important role in advancing polymer materials in macro and nanoscale. Its aim is to provide original, theoretical, and important experimental results that use non-routine methodologies. It also includes chapters on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of composite problems that indicate the need for new experimental approaches. This new book: * Provides a collection of articles that highlight some important areas of current interest in key polymeric materials and technology * Gives an up-to-date and thorough exposition of the present state of the art of key polymeric materials and technology * Describes the types of techniques now available to the engineers and technicians and discusses their capabilities, limitations, and applications * Provides a balance between materials science and chemical aspects, basic and applied research * Focuses on topics with more advanced methods * Emphasizes precise mathematical development and actual experimental details * Explains modification methods for changing of different materials properties

This new book explores the consideration of relationships that connect the structural and basic mechanical properties of polymeric mediums within the frameworks of fractal analysis with cluster model representations attraction. Incidentally, the choice of any structural model of medium or their combinations is defined by expediency and further usage convenience only. This book presents leading-edge research in this rapidly changing and evolving field. The book presents descriptions of the main reactions of high-molecular substances within the frameworks of fractal analysis and irreversible aggregation models. Synergetics and percolation theory were also used. In spite of the enormous number of papers dealing with the influence of the medium on the rate of chemical reactions (including synthesis of polymers), no strict quantitative theory capable of "universal" application has been put forward up until now. It is now possible to describe the relationship between the reaction rate constants and the equilibrium constants with the nature of the medium in which the reactions take place by means of a single equation. This important book for the first time gives structural and physical grounds of polymers synthesis and curing, and the fractal analysis is used for this purpose. This new book: * Highlights some important areas of current interest in polymer products and chemical processes * Focuses on topics with more advanced methods * Emphasizes precise mathematical development and actual experimental details * Analyzes theories to formulate and prove the physicochemical principles * Provides an up-to-date and thorough exposition of the present state of the art of complex polymeric materials

This volume highlights the latest developments and trends in advanced polyblends and their structures. It presents the developments of advanced polyblends and respective tools to characterize and predict the material properties and behavior. The book provides important original and theoretical experimental results that use non-routine methodologies often unfamiliar to many readers. Furthermore chapters on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of composite problems are included, which indicate the need for the new experimental approaches that are presented. Technical and technological development demands the creation of new materials that are stronger, more reliable, and more durable-materials with new properties. Up-to-date projects in creation of new materials go along the way of nanotechnology. With contributions from experts from both the industry and academia, this book presents the latest developments in the identified areas. This book incorporates appropriate case studies, explanatory notes, and schematics for more clarity and better understanding. The book is designed as a textbook for postgraduate students, as a teaching support for the faculty, as a reference book for early research career beginners, and as a reference book for the scientific community at large for understanding the significance of modern materials and chemical engineering. This book will be useful for chemists, chemical engineers, technologists, and students interested in advanced nano-polymers with complex behavior and their applications This new book: * Gives an up-to-date and thorough exposition of the present state of the art of polyblends and composites * Familiarizes the reader with new aspects of the techniques used in the examination of polymers, including chemical, physicochemical, and purely physical methods of examination * Describes the types of techniques now available to the polymer chemist and technician and discusses their capabilities, limitations, and applications * Provides a balance between materials science and mechanics aspects, basic and applied research, and high-technology and high-volume (low-cost) composite development

The aim of this new compendium is to provide a solid understanding of the recent developments in advanced polymeric materials from macro- to nano-length scales. Composites are becoming more important because they can help to improve our quality of life, such as being put into service in flight vehicles, automobiles, boats, pipelines, buildings, roads, bridges, and dozens of other products, including medical products. The chapters cover a multitude of important advances, including explanations of the significance of the new fillers, like graphene and carbon nanotubes, in different matrix systems. Coverage of the application of these materials in biological and others fields also makes this book unique. Topics include advances on the processing, properties, recyclability, and reparability, and applications for polymer matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, carbon matrix composites, wood-based composites, biocomposites, ecocomposites, nanocomposites, and more.

The volume includes presentations of technological and research accomplishments along with novel approaches in nanomedicine and nanotechnology. It explores the different types of nanomedicinal drugs with their production and commercial significance. Other topics discussed are the use of natural and synthetic nanoparticles for the production of drugs, different types of nanoparticles systems, drug carriers, wound-healing antimicrobial activity, effects of natural materials in nanomedicine, and toxicity of nanoparticles. The valuable information presented in this volume will help to keep those in this field up to date on the key findings, observations, and fabrication of drugs related to nanomedicine and nanotechnology. With chapters written by prominent researchers from academia, industry, and government and private research laboratories across the world, the book will prove to be a rich resource.

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.

High-Performance Polymers for Engineering-Based Composites presents a selection of investigations and innovative research in polymer chemistry and advanced materials. The book includes case studies in the field of nanocomposites. The volume provides coverage of new research in polymer science and engineering with applications in chemical engineering, materials science, and chemistry. In addition to synthetic polymer chemistry, it also looks at the properties of polymers in various states (solution, melt, solid). The chapters provide a survey of the important categories of polymers including commodity thermoplastics and fibers, elastomers and thermosets, and engineering and specialty polymers. Basic polymer processing principles are explained as well as in-depth descriptions of the latest polymer applications in different industrial sectors. This new book reviews the field's current state and emerging advances. With contributions from experts from both the industry and academia, this book presents the latest developments in polymer products and chemical processes.

This timely volume provides an overview of polymer characterization test methods and presents experimental research in polymers using modern methods. Each chapter describes the principle of the respective method, as well as the detailed procedures of experiments with examples of actual applications and demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of each physical technique. Thus, readers will be able to apply the concepts as described in the book to their own experiments. The successful characterization of polymer systems is one of the most important objectives of today's experimental research of polymers. Considering the tremendous scientific, technological, and economic importance of polymeric materials, especially in industry, it is impossible to overestimate the usefulness of experimental techniques in this field. Since the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, and agricultural industries, as well as many others, depend on this progress to an enormous degree, it is critical to be as efficient, precise, and cost-effective in our empirical understanding of the performance of polymer systems as possible. This presupposes our proficiency with, and understanding of, the most widely used experimental methods and techniques. The methods and instrumentation described in this volume represent modern analytical techniques useful to researchers, product development specialists, and quality control experts in polymer synthesis and manufacturing. Engineers, polymer scientists, and technicians will find this volume useful in selecting approaches and techniques applicable to characterizing molecular, compositional, rheological, and thermodynamic properties of elastomers and plastics.

Green Polymers and Environment Pollution Control examines the latest developments in the important and growing field of producing conventional polymers from sustainable sources. Presenting cutting-edge research from a group of leading international researchers from academia, government, and industrial institutions, the book explains what green polymers are, why green polymers are needed, which green polymers to use, and how manufacturing companies can integrate them into their manufacturing operations. It goes on to provide guidelines for implementing sustainable practices for traditional petroleum-based plastics, biobased plastics, and recycled plastics. With recent advancements in synthesis technologies and the discovery of new functional monomers, research shows that green polymers with better properties can be produced from renewable resources. The book describes these advances in synthesis, processing, and technology. It provides not only state-of-the-art information but also acts to stimulate research in this direction. Green Polymers and Environment Pollution Control offers an excellent resource for researchers, upper-level graduate students, brand owners, environment and sustainability managers, business development and innovation professionals, chemical engineers, plastics manufacturers, agriculture specialists, biochemists, and suppliers to the industry to debate sustainable, economic solutions for polymer synthesis.

Technical and technological development demands the creation of new materials that are stronger, more reliable, and more durable-materials with new properties. This new book covers a broad range of polymeric materials and technology and provides researchers in polymer science and technology with new research on the functional materials production chain. Chapters in this new volume highlight recent developments in advanced polymeric materials from macro- to nano-length scales. Composites are becoming more important because they can help to improve quality of life. This volume presents the latest developments and trends in advanced polymer materials and structures. It discusses the developments of advanced polymers and respective tools to characterize and predict the material properties and behavior. This book has an important role in advancing polymer materials in macro and nanoscale. Its aim is to provide original, theoretical, and important experimental results that use non-routine methodologies. It also includes chapters on novel applications of more familiar experimental techniques and analyses of composite problems that indicate the need for new experimental approaches.

This book focuses on important aspects of materials chemistry by providing an overview of the theoretical aspects of materials chemistry, by describing the characterization and analysis methods for materials, and by explaining physical transport mechanisms in various materials. Not only does this book summarize the classical theories of materials chemistry, but also it exhibits their engineering applications in response to the current key issues. The chapters provide practical equations, figures, and references, providing suitable complement to the text. This book is designed to provide important information for scientists and engineers on experimental research in materials chemistry using modern methods. The methods and instrumentation described represent modern analytical techniques useful to researchers, product development specialists, and quality control experts in polymer synthesis and manufacturing.

This new book covers the synthetic as well application aspects of functional polymers. It highlights modern trends in the field and showcases the recent characterization techniques that are being employed in the field of polymer science. The chapters are written by top-notch scientists who are internationally recognized in the field. The chapters will highlight the modern trend in the field.

Engineering design teams sometimes have need of a material that may not exist because the combination of required properties is difficult to achieve. One solution is to develop a new material having the required set of properties needed in the application. During the author's 40-year career he has successfully worked on many such problems. The uniquely useful and valuable book, Polymeric Thermosetting Compounds: Innovative Aspects of Their Formulation Technology, presents twenty of those design problems and the solutions, which resulted in patents and spin-off applications. Author Ralph Hermansen, with years of experience of hands-on experience, is an expert in formulating epoxies, polyurethanes, and other polymers into compounds that have unique properties, and here he shares his knowledge and experience of attaining novel solutions to very challenging problems. He covers polymeric compounds such as coatings, adhesives, encapsulants, transparent plastics, and others. Chapters describe the design problem and define which key properties are sought in the new material. The author shares his thinking about how to approach the formulating problem and describes the experimental procedures used to eventually solve the problem. Patent information is shared as well. Once a new family of polymeric compounds is developed, that technology can be used to attack new unsolved materials problems, or "spin-offs," and real-life examples are provided to help readers see new applications of the technologies described in the earlier chapters. The book will be of interest to a diverse group of people. Industry professionals already in the business of selling specialty compounds may be able to add new products to their catalogs with little research cost or time by using the information in the book. Formulators, trying to develop a new compound to challenging requirements, may gain insight into how to make a breakthrough. The information in the book will be very valuable to companies needing these novel solutions. And younger people wondering what a career in materials science would be like get a first-hand commentary from someone who has done it.

This new book presents the authors' biomedical studies of natural degradable biopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates [PHAs]) and discusses the demand for medical-grade materials and modern trends, focusing on the present status and future potential of PHAs. The authors present and summarize their most important results and findings obtained during the last few years in experimental studies and clinical trials of PHAs at the Institute of Biophysics Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science.

Natural Fiber Textile Composite Engineering sheds light on the area of the natural fiber textile composites with new research on their applications, the material used, the methods of preparation, the different types of polymers, the selection of raw materials, the elements of design the natural fiber textile polymer composites for a particular end use, their manufacturing techniques, and finally their life cycle assessments (LCA). The volume also addresses the important issue in the materials science of how to utilize natural fibers as an enhancement to composite materials. Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been proven to provide a combination of superior mechanical property, dielectric property, and environmental advantages such as renewability and biodegradability. Natural fibers, some from agricultural waste products, can replace existing metallic and plastic parts and help to alleviate the environmental problem of increasing amounts of agriculture residual. The book is divided into four sections, covering: applications of natural fiber polymer composites design of natural fiber polymer composites composite manufacturing techniques and agriculture waste manufacturing composite material testing methods The first section of the book deals with the application of textile composites in the industry and the properties of the natural fibers, providing an understanding of the history of natural fiber composites as well as an analysis of the different properties of different natural fibers. The second section goes on to explain the textile composites, their classification, different composite manufacturing techniques, and the different pretreatment methods for the natural fibers to be used in composite formation. It also analyzes the composite material design under different types of loading and the mechanism of failure of the natural fiber composite. The effect of the fiber volume fraction of different textile structures is explained. The third section of the book, on composite manufacturing techniques and agriculture waste manufacturing, concerns the natural fiber composite manufacturing techniques, agricultural waste, and the methods of their preparation to be used successfully in the composite, either in the form of fibers particles or nanoparticles. The book then considers the testing methods of the different composite components as well as the final composite materials, giving the principle of the testing standards, either distractive or nondestructive. This book attempts to fill the gap between the role of the textile engineer and the role of the designer of composites from natural fibers. It provides important information on the application of textile composites for textile engineers, materials engineers, and researchers in the area of composite materials.

Nanotechnology is the creation of useful materials, devices, and systems through the control of matter on the nanometer-length scale. This takes place at the scale of atoms, molecules, and supramolecular structures. In the worldofchemistry,therationaldesignofmolecularstructuresandoptimized control of self-assembly conditions have enabled us to control the resultant self-assembled morphologies having 1 to 100-nm dimensions with sing- nanometer precision. This current research trend applying the bottom-up approach to molecules remarkably contrasts with the top-down approach in nanotechnology,inwhichelectronicdevicesareminiaturizingtosmallerthan 30nm.However,even engineers workingwithstate-of-the-artcomputer te- nology state that maintaining the rate of improvement based on Moore's law will be the most dif?cult challenge in the next decade. On the other hand, the excellent properties and intelligent functions of a variety of natural materials have inspired polymer and organic chemists to tailortheirsyntheticorganicalternativesbyextractingtheessentialstructural elements. In particular, one-dimensional structures in nature with sophis- catedhierarchy,suchasmyelinated axonsinneurons,tendon,proteintubesof tubulin, and spider webs, provide intriguingexamples of integrated functions and properties. Againstthisbackground,supramolecularself-assemblyofone-dimensional architectures like ?bers and tubes from amphiphilic molecules, bio-related molecules, and properly designed self-assembling polymer molecules has - tractedrapidlygrowinginterest.Theintrinsicpropertiesoforganicmolecules such asthe diversity ofstructures, facile implementation offunctionality,and theaggregationproperty,providein?nite possibilities forthedevelopment of new and interesting advanced materials in the near future. The morpholo- cally variable characteristics of supramolecular assemblies can also function as pre-organized templates to synthesize one-dimensional hybrid nanoc- posites. The obtained one-dimensional organic-inorganic, organic-bio, or organic-metal hybrid materials are potentially applicable to sensor/actuator arrays, nanowires,and opto-electricdevices. ThepresentvolumesonSelf-AssembledNano?bers(Volume219)andNa- tubes(Volume220)provideanoverviewonthoseaspectswithineightchapters.

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

Acronycine, a potent antitumor agent, was discovered in the bark of the small Australian Rutaceous tree, Acronychia baueri Schott. This new work presents a comprehensive survey of the isolation, structure determination, methods of synthesis, and the biological properties of acronycine, as well as an account of natural and synthetic analogues of acronycine, and their biological properties.
Solanum alkaloids were reviewed in 1990 and this book surveys the new developments (isolation procedures, structural elucidation methods) and critically updates earlier reviews.
In addition it presents the interesting chemistry and synthesis of cyclopeptide alkaloids. These cyclopeptide alkaloids have been isolated from ascidians, sea hares, and cyanobacteria.
Also included are reviews of the use of the functionalized lactam, pyroglutamic acid, as a chiral template for the synthesis of alkaloids.
The second review examines the on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of alkaloid mixtures.
Finally a review of oxygenated analogs of the alkaloid Marcfortine for their potent antiparasitic activity is included at the end of this work.
Each chapter in this volume has been reviewed by at least one expert in the field. Indexes for both subjects and organisms are provided.

This book is based on invited presentations at the Ninth International Catecholamine Symposiwn. Over several decades, each International Catecholamine Symposiwn (ICS) has provided a uniquely important forwn for updating basic as well as clinical research on the catecholamines, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. The first ICS took nd n1 place in Bethesda, Maryland, in the USA in 1958; the 2 in Milan, Italy in 1965; the 3 th in Strasbourg, France in 1973; the 4th in Asilomar, California, USA in 1978; the 5 in th th Goteborg, Sweden in 1983; the 6 in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1987; the 7 in Amsterdam, th Netherlands in 1992; and the 8 in Asilomar, California, USA in 1996. th The 9 International Catecholamine Symposiwn (9ICS) was held in Kyoto, Japan, th March 31-April 5, 2001. This ICS was held concurrently with the 5 International th Conference on Progress in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease (5 ADPD). These international meetings were coordinated to be a joint international congress. Catecholamines and related neurotransmitters and neuromediators play important roles in the pathogenesis of symptoms and neurodegenerative processes of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Therefore, the Joint Congress provided an opportunity for investigators and clinicians working in these fields to exchange their. most recent investigational results and clinical experiences. This Joint International Congress turned out to be an enormous success, attended by 1258 participants from 38 countries, in an enthusiastic and pleasant atmosphere."

R.N.IBBETT This book provides a source of information on all major aspects of NMR spectroscopy of synthetic polymers. It represents a deliberate attempt to pull together the numerous strands of the subject in a single comprehensive volume, designed to be readable at every scientific level. It is intended that the book will be of use to the vast majority of polymer scientists and NMR spec troscopists alike. Readers new to NMR will find extensive information within the book on the available techniques, allowing full exploration of the many polymer science applications. Readers already established within a branch of NMR will find the book an excellent guide to the practical study of polymers and the inter pretation of experimental data. Readers who have specialised in polymer NMR will find the book a valuable dictionary of proven methodologies, as well as a guide to the very latest developments in the subject. Workers from all of the main branches of polymer NMR have been invited to contribute. Each chapter therefore contains information relating to a parti cular investigative topic, indentified mainly on the basis of technique. The book is loosely divided between solution and solid-state domains, although the numerous interconnections confirm that these two domains are parts of the same continuum. Basic principles are explained within each chapter, combined with discussions of experimental theory and applications. Examples of polymer investigations are covered generously and in many chapters there are discussions of the most recent theoretical and experimental developments."