Composite materials have been well developed to meet the challenges of high-performing material properties targeting engineering and structural applications. The ability of composite materials to absorb stresses and dissipate strain energy is vastly superior to that of other materials such as polymers and ceramics, and thus they offer engineers many mechanical, thermal, chemical and damage-tolerance advantages with limited drawbacks such as brittleness. Composite Materials: Manufacturing, Properties and Applications presents a comprehensive review of current status and future directions, latest technologies and innovative work, challenges and opportunities for composite materials. The chapters present latest advances and comprehensive coverage of material types, design, fabrication, modelling, properties and applications from conventional composite materials to advanced composites such as nanocomposites, self-healing and smart composites. The book targets researchers in the field of advanced composite materials and ceramics, students of materials science and engineering at the postgraduate level, as well as material engineers and scientists working in industrial R& D sectors for composite material manufacturing.

This book highlights a novel and holistic approach to multiscaled PVA bionanocomposite films used for electrical sensing, medical and packaging applications. With a combination of material characterization and modeling to understand the effect of nanoparticle size and shape, as well as 3D interphase properties and features such as interphase modulus and nanoscale dimensions, this book substantiates how excellent mechanical and thermal properties of these materials are achieved. Also it addresses the importance of using economical and ecofriendly bionanocomposites as potential green materials to support the goal of environmental sustainability with multifunctional properties.

The book presents up-to-date thermal control film materials, technologies and applications in spacecraft. Commonly used thermal control film materials and devices for spacecraft are discussed in detail, including single-structure passive thermal control film materials, composite structure passive thermal control film materials, intelligent thermal control film materials, and microstructure thermal control thin film devices.

This book highlights current advanced developments in bioepoxy and bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites and an optimisation of material formulation and processing parameters on fabrication of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites in order to achieve the highest mechanical properties in relation to their morphological structures, thermal properties, as well as biodegradability and water absorption, which is based on the use of Taguchi design of experiments with the consideration of technical and economical point of view. It also elaborates holistic theoretical modelling of tensile properties of such bionanocomposites with respect to the effect of contents of nanoclay fillers and epoxydised soybean oil (ESO).

This book highlights a novel and holistic approach to multiscaled PVA bionanocomposite films used for electrical sensing, medical and packaging applications. With a combination of material characterization and modeling to understand the effect of nanoparticle size and shape, as well as 3D interphase properties and features such as interphase modulus and nanoscale dimensions, this book substantiates how excellent mechanical and thermal properties of these materials are achieved. Also it addresses the importance of using economical and ecofriendly bionanocomposites as potential green materials to support the goal of environmental sustainability with multifunctional properties.

This book focuses on the preparation and characterisation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/ halloysite nanotube (HNT) bionanocomposite films with different HNT contents for potential use in food packaging. It examines the effect of material composition and nanofiller content on mechanical, thermal and optical properties in relation to their morphological structures, and also comprehensively describes the water resistance, biodegradation and migration rates of such bionanocomposites, as well as their barrier properties in terms of water vapour transmission, and water vapour, air and oxygen permeabilities. Further, this book discusses the use of Nielsen model and Cussler model to predict the relative permeability of bionanocomposites, demonstrating that Nielsen model is more effective and in better agreement with experimental data obtained. Lastly, it discusses the application of bionanocomposite films in food packaging to prolong the shelf life of freshly cut avocados and peaches.

This book highlights current advanced developments in bioepoxy and bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites and an optimisation of material formulation and processing parameters on fabrication of bioepoxy/clay nanocomposites in order to achieve the highest mechanical properties in relation to their morphological structures, thermal properties, as well as biodegradability and water absorption, which is based on the use of Taguchi design of experiments with the consideration of technical and economical point of view. It also elaborates holistic theoretical modelling of tensile properties of such bionanocomposites with respect to the effect of contents of nanoclay fillers and epoxydised soybean oil (ESO).

This book highlights the preparation and characterization of efficient electromagnetic shielding composites containing bio-carbon derived from natural loofah with unique three-dimensional porous structures by means of entire structure design of composites according to shielding theory. The synergistic effect of multifunctional nanoparticles and bio-carbon on electromagnetic shielding mechanism, mechanical performance, and thermal stability of composites obtained has been holistically investigated. The discovery of this renewable, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive bio-carbon represents a new class of conductive materials with multi-interfaces and unravels further research and development of a wide variety of new electromagnetic shielding material systems with potential commercial applications ranging from electronic devices to energy management.

This book focuses on the preparation and characterisation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/ halloysite nanotube (HNT) bionanocomposite films with different HNT contents for potential use in food packaging. It examines the effect of material composition and nanofiller content on mechanical, thermal and optical properties in relation to their morphological structures, and also comprehensively describes the water resistance, biodegradation and migration rates of such bionanocomposites, as well as their barrier properties in terms of water vapour transmission, and water vapour, air and oxygen permeabilities. Further, this book discusses the use of Nielsen model and Cussler model to predict the relative permeability of bionanocomposites, demonstrating that Nielsen model is more effective and in better agreement with experimental data obtained. Lastly, it discusses the application of bionanocomposite films in food packaging to prolong the shelf life of freshly cut avocados and peaches.

Electrospun Polymers and Composites: Ultrafine Materials, High Performance Fibres and Wearables reviews the latest technological developments and innovations in electrospun polymers and composites, highlighting the multifunctionality of these ultrafine materials as high performance fibers. The book's chapters investigate a wide range of different electrospinning applications, including drug delivery, tissue scaffolding, fiber reinforcement and nanofiltration, with a particular focus on shape memory effect and the wearable characteristics of electrospun polymers and composites. This will be a valuable reference resource for research and for industrial communities working in the field of electrospinning.

Fillers and Reinforcements for Advanced Nanocomposites reviews cutting-edge, state-of-the-art research on the effective use of nanoscaled fillers and reinforcements to enhance the performance of advanced nanocomposites, both in industrial and manufacturing applications. It covers a broad range of topics such as nanocelluloses, nanotubes, nanoplatelets, and nanoparticles, as well as their extensive applications. The chapters provide detailed information on how fillers and reinforcements are used in the fabrication, synthesis and characterization of advanced nanocomposites to achieve extraordinary performance of new materials and significant enhancements in their mechanical, thermal, structural and multi-functional properties. It also highlights new technologies for the fabrication of advanced nanocomposites using innovative electrospinning techniques.

The exploration of attractive nanoscience and nanotechnology offers tremendous opportunities to implement nanostructures/nanomaterials such as nanoclays (1-D platelets), carbon nanotubes (2-D tubes) and porous nanosilicas (3-D spheres). The well-tailored nanostructures of a material play a leading role in the development of excellent mechanical, thermal, barrier, optical, structural and heat retardant properties, as well as widespread novel applications in energy storage, cosmetics, sensing devices, nanofiltration, drug delivery and semiconductors. This book presents the focus of nanostructures from three key aspects of multi-functional properties, recent production methods and real applications in multi-disciplinary fields of chemistry, material science and engineering, physics and biotechnology.