In a unified treatment for the broad subject of materials, this book presents some fascinating phenomena associated with the remarkable performance of polymers and chemical materials. It provides a comprehensive description of the applications and tools for chemical polymeric materials. It also includes the background information necessary for assimilating the current academic literature on complex materials and their applications.

This book presents selected papers on various aspects of rubber engineering, technology, and exploitation. The contributions range from new methods of the modification of filler surface and crosslinks structure of rubber vulcanizates, through modern functional elastomer composites, to aspects of their thermal stability, flammability, and ozone degradation. Each chapter contains a brief introduction to a particular topic, a description of the experimental techniques, and a discussion on the results obtained, followed by conclusions. The book will help to broaden the knowledge of researchers in the field of rubber compounding, crosslinking, and behavior under various exploitation conditions. The research and development presented in this book has potential for industrial applications as well as for new materials and technologies. The book also details theoretical background to a number of experimental techniques, which should make it interesting to research students and professionals.

This book presents selected papers on various aspects of rubber engineering, technology, and exploitation. The contributions range from new methods of the modification of filler surface and crosslinks structure of rubber vulcanizates, through modern functional elastomer composites, to aspects of their thermal stability, flammability, and ozone degradation. Each chapter contains a brief introduction to a particular topic, a description of the experimental techniques, and a discussion on the results obtained, followed by conclusions. The book will help to broaden the knowledge of researchers in the field of rubber compounding, crosslinking, and behavior under various exploitation conditions. The research and development presented in this book has potential for industrial applications as well as for new materials and technologies. The book also details theoretical background to a number of experimental techniques, which should make it interesting to research students and professionals.

In a unified treatment for the broad subject of materials, this book presents some fascinating phenomena associated with the remarkable performance of polymers and chemical materials. It provides a comprehensive description of the applications and tools for chemical polymeric materials. It also includes the background information necessary for assimilating the current academic literature on complex materials and their applications.

This title's contents include: perspective polymer materials with structural inhomogeneity for the construction of new generation optical devices; the effect of various factors on damaging of polymeric materials by microorganisms; kinetics of radial growth of aspergillus colonies at different temperatures; kinetics of acids excretion in medium by mycelial micromycetes colonies; polymers for fibre optics; isobutylene polymerisation.

Generally the topics presented in this book cover wide aspects connected with renewable resources, how they can be obtained, assessed, processed and finally applied. The new crops, very often with the improved genetics, become the key to the successful plant biotechnology, bio-fuels, biocomposites and agro-fine chemicals. New agriculture resources like Jatropha as well as older ones like flax and hemp, kenaf, jute, sisal are discussed as well. A special focus is on the diversification of renewable resources for non-food applications, including fibres, pulp and paper, agro-fine chemicals and energy.

This book covers the following themes and cross-cutting research and development activities: Agronomy, economics and market trends for the production of natural fibres; Synthetic and natural fibres, their properties, processing and applications; Properties, performance and primary processing of natural fibres; Textile and clothing production processes and properties; Nanotechnology applications in fibres, textiles and clothing; Comfort and health related applications of textiles; World trade and marketing of fibres, textiles and clothing; Modern and innovative textile processing techniques and technologies.

Plant biotechnology and renewable resources are the driving forces behind a more sustainable development of agriculture and other related industries in the world. Until the 21st century, the main task for most industries was to raise the volume of production to gain the highest profits possible. Non-renewable natural resources, such as oil, were the most profitable sources of energy. This tendency not only exploited these resources but had harmful side effects: growing environmental pollution and changing the earth into a desert, suitable neither for animals nor human beings. At the beginning of the 21st century, both scientists and "green movements" warn that it is necessary to change this philosophy of economic progress towards a more intensive exploration of renewable resources. Biotechnology is one of the very important and novel tools for obtaining diversified materials on the base of renewable resources. They can serve as a source for production of energy, novel materials, fibres, food, agrofine chemicals and composites. It is believed that diversified possibilities for using natural green resources and their processing can ensure balanced progress without side effects on the earth's environment. This book presents research on the possibilities of creating progress in the processing of renewable resources within the study of biotechnology.