This book covers various molecular, metal-organic, dynamic covalent, polymer and other gels, focusing on their driving interactions, structures and properties. It consists of six chapters demonstrating interesting examples of these gels, classified by the type of driving interaction, and also discusses the effect of these interactions on the gels' structures and properties. The book offers an interesting and useful guide for a broad readership in various fields of chemical and materials science.

The dielectric properties especially of glassy materials are nowadays explored at widely varying temperatures and pressures without any gap in the spectral range from Hz up to the Infrared, thus covering typically 20 decades or more. This extraordinary span enables to trace the scaling and the mutual interactions of relaxation processes in detail, e.g. the dynamic glass transition and secondary relaxations, but as well far infrared vibrations, like the Boson peak. Additionally the evolution of intra-molecular interactions in the course of the dynamic glass transition is also well explored by (Fourier Transform) Infrared Spectroscopy. This volume within 'Advances in Dielectrics' summarizes this knowledge and discusses it with respect to the existing and often competing theoretical concepts.

PEO Unsaturated Macromonomers ................... 21 PEO Saturated Macromonomers ..................... 24 PEO Block and Graft Copolymers .................... 25 Dispersion Polymerization of PEO Macromonomers ......... 27 Copolymerization of PEO Macromonomers with Styrene ...... 27 Copolymerization of PEO Macromonomers with Alkyl Acrylates and Methacrylates .................... 33 Emulsion Polymerization of PEO Macromonomers ......... 34 Homopolymerization of PEO Macromonomers ............ 34 Copolymerization of PEO Macromonomers with Styrene ...... 39 Copolymerization of PEO Macromonomers with Other Comonomers ............................ 45 Polymerization of PEO Macromonomers in Other Disperse Systems .......................... 48 Conclusion ................................. 50 References ................................. 52 List of Abbreviations and Symbols A acrylic group second virial coefficient A2 AA acrylic acid AVA 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acide) AIBN 2,2'-azobiisobutyronitrile B A butyl acrylate BzMA benzyl methacrylate BMA butyl methacrylate CAC critical association concentration concentration of monomer in water cw concentration of polymer micelle concentration CMC critical CFC critical flocculation concentration CFT critical flocculation temperature chain length (CL) Radical Polymerization of Polyoxyethylene Macromonomers in Disperse Systems 3 methyl Cl t-butyl tC4 chain transfer constant to stabilizer cs chain transfer to solvent css chain transfer constant for transfer to polymeric stabilizer CSP D particle diameter DLS dynamic light scattering volume median diameter D50 final particle diameter " f DBP dibenzoyl peroxide number average degree of polymerization DPn diffusion coefficient of the radical in water " w overall activation energy EO activation energy for propagation E activation energy for termination E t activation energy for decomposition of initiator Ed EO ethylene oxide unit f initiator efficiency monomer feed composition fw graft available G a graft required G r HLB hydrofile-lipophile balance

As a result of their unique physical properties, biological membrane mimetics such as biopolymers are used in a broad range of scientific and technological applications. This comprehensive book covers new applications of biopolymers in the research and development of industrial scale nutraceutical and functional food grade products. All the major food biopolymers are included, from plant, animal and marine sources. Coverage also includes biopolymer-based drug delivery mechanisms intended for biological applications such as bio-detection of pathogens, fluorescent biological labels, and drug and gene delivery. This is the first interdisciplinary book to address this area specifically and is essential reading for those who produce the functional biopolymer materials as well as those who seek to incorporate them into appropriate nutraceutical, food and drug delivery products.

This book is addressed to Master and PhD students as well as researchers from academia and industry. It aims to provide the key definitions to understand the issues related to interface modifications in natural fibre based composites considering the particular supramolecular and micro- structures encountered in plant fibres. A particular emphasis is given to the modification and functionalization strategies of natural fibres and their impact on biocomposites behaviour and properties. Commonly used and newly developed treatment processes are described in view of scaling-up natural fibre treatments for their implementation in industry. Finally, a detailed and comprehensive description of the tools and methodologies developed to investigate and characterize surfaces and interfaces in natural fibre based composites is reviewed and discussed.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the freezing of colloidal suspensions and explores cutting-edge research in the field. It is the first book to deal with this phenomenon from a multidisciplinary perspective, and examines the various occurrences, their technological uses, the fundamental phenomena, and the different modeling approaches. Its chapters integrate input from fields as diverse as materials science, physics, biology, mathematics, geophysics, and food science, and therefore provide an excellent point of departure for anyone interested in the topic. The main content is supplemented by a wealth of figures and illustrations to elucidate the concepts presented, and includes a final chapter providing advice for those starting out in the field. As such, the book provides an invaluable resource for materials scientists, physicists, biologists, and mathematicians, and will also benefit food engineers, civil engineers, and materials processing professionals.

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

This book focuses on inorganic nanosheets, including various oxides, chalcogenides, and graphenes, that provide two-dimensional (2D) media to develop materials chemistry in broad fields such as electronics, photonics, environmental science, and biology. The application area of nanosheets and nanosheet-based materials covers the analytical, photochemical, optical, biological, energetic, and environmental research fields. All of these applications come from the low dimensionality of the nanosheets, which anisotropically regulate structures of solids, microspaces, and fluids. Understanding nanosheets from chemical, structural, and application aspects in relation to their "fully nanoscopic" characters will help materials scientists to develop novel advanced materials. This is the first book that accurately and concisely summarizes this field including exfoliation and intercalation chemistries of layered crystals. The book provides perspective on the materials chemistry of inorganic nanosheets. The first section describes fundamental aspects of nanosheets common to diverse applications: how unique structures and properties are obtained from nanosheets based on low dimensionality. The second section presents state-of-the-art descriptions of how the 2D nature of nanosheets is utilized in each application of the materials that are developed.

A handbook on syntheses and properties, production processes, and applications of maleic anhydride and maleic anhydride derived products - all in one text. This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of maleic anhydride chemistry and applications from the professional perspective. With chapters written by leading R&D scientists from the chemical industry, and edited by the Vice President and ASI Technology Chief at Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI), Dr. Osama M. Musa, readers will find a unique perspective and summary of the latest advancements in the field of maleic anhydride science. Maleic anhydride is produced industrially on large scale (10E3 kt/annum). Its rich chemistry makes it an important raw material for numerous products and processes (e.g. for applications in polymers and coatings), many of which are covered in this handbook for the first time in a comprehensive manner. The broad scope spans topics ranging from production techniques (including topics such as processes, catalysis, trouble-shooting), synthesis and properties of small and polymeric maleic anhydride based compounds (focusing on industrially relevant compounds as well as emerging areas of importance) and in-depth and broad discussions of commercial maleic anhydride based applications.

This book provides an introductory and general overview of advances in polymers towards their employment as antimicrobial materials. The author describes current approaches for avoiding microbial contamination, toward macro-molecular antibiotics, and prevention of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by use of polymers. He establishes the remaining issues and analyzes existing methodologies for treating bacterial infections and for preparing antimicrobial materials.

This book details all current techniques for converting bulk polymers into nano-size materials. The authors highlight various physical and chemical approaches for preparation of nano-size polymers. They describe the properties of these materials and their extensive potential commercial applications.

This book offers in-depth insights into the photochemical behavior of multicomponent polymeric-based materials, with a particular emphasis on the photodegradation and photostabilization of these materials. Studying various classes of materials bases such as polysaccharides, wood, synthetic polymers, rubber blends, and nanocomposites, it offers a valuable reference source for graduate and postgraduate students, engineering students, research scholars and polymer engineers working in industry.

This book covers smart polymer nanocomposites with perspectives for application in energy harvesting, as self-healing materials, or shape memory materials. The book is application-oriented and describes different types of polymer nanocomposites, such as elastomeric composites, thermoplastic composites, or conductive polymer composites. It outlines their potential for applications, which would meet some of the most important challenges nowadays: for harvesting energy, as materials with the capacity to self-heal, or as materials memorizing a given shape.The book brings together these different applications for the first time in one single platform. Chapters are ordered both by the type of composites and by the target applications. Readers will thus find a good overview, facilitating a comparison of the different smart materials and their applications. The book will appeal to scientists in the fields of chemistry, material science and engineering, but also to technologists and physicists, from graduate student level to researcher and professional.

The brief explains in simple terms the essentials of polymer chemistry and how polymers came to be discovered by pioneers in this field. It relates the many uses of polymers, including those not widely recognised by the lay person. The chemistry of polymerisation and the influence of chemical structure and additives on properties are described. Ethical issues are considered, especially in the context of huge tonnages of plastics. Finally short paragraphs on more than 30 common polymers are listed chronologically with chemical structures, properties and applications. It will appeal to those with connections to or within the plastics, rubber and textile industries, science students, members of other science disciplines using polymers, as well as people just curious to know about everyday plastics.

This book provides a detailed introduction to organic radical polymers and open-shell macromolecules. Functional macromolecules have led to marked increases in a wide range of technologies, and one of the fastest growing of these fields is that of organic electronic materials and devices. To date, synthetic and organic electronic device efforts have focused almost exclusively on closed-shell polymers despite the promise of open-shell macromolecules in myriad applications. This text represents the first comprehensive review of the design, synthesis, characterization, and device applications of open-shell polymers. In particular, it will summarize the impressive synthetic and device performance efforts that have been achieved with respect to energy storage, energy conversion, magnetic, and spintronic applications. By combining comprehensive reviews with a wealth of informative figures, the text provides the reader with a complete "molecules-to-modules" understanding of the state of the art in open-shell macromolecules. Moreover, the monograph highlights future directions for open-shell polymers in order to allow the reader to be part of the community that continues to build the field. In this way, the reader will gain a rapid understanding of the field and will have a clear pathway to utilize these materials in next-generation applications.

Within the scope of this work, Steffen Ropers evaluates the viscoelastic and temperature-dependent nature of the bending behavior of thermoplastic composite sheets in order to further enhance the predictability of the draping simulation. This simulation is a useful tool for the development of robust large scale processes for continuously fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP). The bending behavior thereby largely influences the size and position of wrinkles, which are one of the most common processing defects for continuously fiber-reinforced parts. Thus, a better understanding of the bending behavior of thermoplastic composite sheets as well as an appropriate testing method along with corresponding material models contribute to a wide-spread application of CFRPs in large scale production.

This book outlines methods to improve functioning of these polymer based devices - in particular, the multi-faceted cognition of these materials. In situ electrochemical techniques are studied to elucidate redox switching between non-conducting and conducting states. The book examines the advantages of combinations of in situ electrochemical techniques in a hyphenated mode for analyzing conducting polymers.

This book presents detailed information on the production and properties of carbon fibers derived from lignin precursors. Focusing on future directions in the carbon fiber industry, it also introduces a novel process for obtaining high-purity lignin, a key aspect in the manufacture of high-quality carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is currently the most preferred lightweight manufacturing material and is rapidly becoming the material of choice for manufacturers around the world. Although more than 80% of commercial carbon fiber is estimated to use PAN (polyacrylonitrile) as a precursor, carbon fiber manufactured from PAN is expensive and therefore its application is limited to high-performance structural materials. Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after cellulose and offers a carbon-rich, renewable resource. As a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry and the production of cellulosic ethanol, lignin is also available at low cost, making it an economically attractive alternative to PAN for the production of carbon fibers, as highlighted in this book. The information presented will be of interest to all those involved in the investigation of carbon fiber materials, carbon fiber manufacturers and carbon fiber users.

By considering the solid state packing of linear chain wax components, this book aims at understanding three things: firstly, which modifications of molecular components are allowed for maintaining stable solid solutions; secondly, what happens when stability conditions are traversed and fractionation begins and thirdly, the structure of fractionated arrays. The co-compatibility of molecular ingredients is considered in terms of their shapes and relative sizes, following an approach originally proposed by Kitaigorodskii. As demonstrated profusely by the crystal structures of pure component types (e. g. alkanes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, long chain esters, cholesteryl esters) and insertion of functional groups (e. g. chain branches, unsaturation, heteroatoms), characteristic molecular packing arrays provide important geometric information for understanding the co-packing of different molecules in mixtures. Single crystal and spectroscopic data from polydisperse arrays can then be evaluated to arrive at plausible structures of solid solutions and fractionated systems. The resultant structures are not only relevant to the understanding of so-called waxes but also include certain classes of polymers. The ramifications of this work extend into any solid state array of polymethylene chains, including lipid foodstuffs.

Glycosides are sugar derivatives in which the hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to carbon 1 is substituted by an alcoholic, phenolic or other groups which are used medicinally for their stimulant effects on the heart. There are a number of glycocides which occur in nature, mainly in plants. These compounds have found importance in therapeutic, nutritional and clinical use because they possess a variety of biological activities. Summarizing significant contemporary information on chemical, nutritional, biological and medicinal aspects of naturally occurring glycosides, this book presents a sequence of chapters that deal with chemical structures, occurrence, biosynthetic and biological activity. It contains: mono- and tri-terpenoid, limonoid, cyanogenic, steroidal, phenolic, cardiac active glycosides, as well as steroidal glycoalkaloids, aminoglycosidic antibiotics, saponins, and glycoproteins and glycolipids. The presence of glycosides and glycoconjugates in animals and micro-organisms is also included.

This book covers the latest advances in polymer-inorganic nanocomposites, with particular focus on high-added-value applications in fields including electronics, optics, magnetism and biotechnology. The unique focus of this book is on electronic, optical, magnetic and biomedical applications of hybrid nanocomposites. Coverage includes: Synthesis methods and issues and production scale-up; Characterization methods; Electronic applications; Optical applications and Photonics; Magnetic applications; and Biomedical applications. The book offers readers a solid grasp of the state of the art, and of current challenges in non-traditional applications of hybrid nanocomposites.

This doctoral thesis explains the synthesis and characterization of novel, smart hybrid nanomaterials. Bastian Ebeling combines in this work synthetic polymers with inorganic nanoparticles from silica or gold. The first chapters offer a comprehensive introduction to basics of polymer science and the applied methodologies. In following chapters, the author describes in detail how he systematically tailored the polymers using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) for combination with inorganic nanoparticles. This work also unravels mechanistic, thermodynamic, and structural aspects of all building blocks and reaction steps. The method described here is simple to perform and opens up pathways to new sets of nanohybrid materials with potential applications as sensors, in energy conversion, or catalysis. Readers will find a unique picture of the step-by step formation of new complex nanomaterials. It offers polymer scientists a systematic guide to the formation and synthesis of a new class of responsive nanomaterials.

Controlled radical polymerization techniques for molecular imprinting, by Mark E. Byrne From bulk polymers to nanoparticles, by Lei Ye Post-imprinting and in-cavity functionalization, by Toshifumi Takeuchi Characterization of MIPs (affinity, selectivity, site heterogeneity...), by Richard Ansell Theoretical aspects and computer modelling, by Ian Nicholls MIPs in aqueous environments, by Bin Lu MIPs for binding macromolecules, by Kenneth J. Shea Solid phase extraction, by Ecevit Yilmaz Sensors, by Sergey A. Piletsky MIPs for catalysis and synthesis, by Marina Resmini Wastewater treatment, by Bo Mattiasson MIPs as tools for bioassays, biotransformation and drug delivery, by Meiping Zhao

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.

This volume reviews the latest trends in organic optoelectronic materials. Each comprehensive chapter allows graduate students and newcomers to the field to grasp the basics, whilst also ensuring that they have the most up-to-date overview of the latest research. Topics include: organic conductors and semiconductors; conducting polymers and conjugated polymer semiconductors, as well as their applications in organic field-effect-transistors; organic light-emitting diodes; and organic photovoltaics and transparent conducting electrodes. The molecular structures, synthesis methods, physicochemical and optoelectronic properties of the organic optoelectronic materials are also introduced and described in detail. The authors also elucidate the structures and working mechanisms of organic optoelectronic devices and outline fundamental scientific problems and future research directions. This volume is invaluable to all those interested in organic optoelectronic materials.