Composites have many engineering advantages over traditional materials, including increased strength, lightness, chemical resistance, and more, making them ideal for use in high performance components in a range of applications from aerospace to construction, and medicine to consumer goods. However, the use of composites also drastically increases material and processing costs.

Multi-functionality combines multiple properties - such as thermal stability or electrical conductivity - into a single material to make it suitable for use in applications for which normally two or more materials would be required. By embedding a material with lightweight circuitry, for example, you can eliminate support chassis, enclosures, brackets and insulation materials not only saving weight and volume, but eliminating design and production costs for every part no longer needed.

Multi-functionality also allows for smart materials, including self-healing material, shape-memory polymers and piezoelectric materials.

Bringing together contributions from experts in the field of multifunctionality, this book presents the state-of-the-art in this exciting and rapidly developing field. It enables engineers and materials scientists to achieve multi-functionality in their own products, using different types of polymer matrices and various nano- and micro-sized fillers and reinforcements, including but not limited to carbon nanotubes and graphene.

The latest developments in a wide range of applications, including automotive/aerospace, electronics, construction and medicine are covered, and future trends are also discussed, making this book an essential reference for any researcher or engineer hoping to stay ahead of the curve in this high-potential area
Increase capability and efficiency by integrating new functionality into composite components
Save mass, volume and costs by replacing multiple existing parts with one multifunctional material.
Expert insight into the effects of different fillers and reinforcements, to achieve exciting new combinations of material properties."