Photomechanical Materials, Composites, and Systems

The Symposium on Nanostructured Materials and Systems was held during the 8th Pacific Rim Conference on Ceramic and Glass Technology (PACRIM 8) from May 31-June 5, 2009 in Vancouver, Canada. This symposium aimed to review the progress in the state-of-the-art of nanoscience and nanotechnology including synthesis, processing, modeling, applications and assessment of toxicological potential of nanomatter. More than 55 contributions (invited talks, oral presentations, and posters), were presented by participants, from all over the world, representing universities, research institutions, and industry which made this symposium an attractive forum for interdisciplinary presentations and discussions and to elaborate their functional diversity. This issue contains 16 peer-reviewed papers (invited and contributed) incorporating the latest developments related to synthesis, processing and manufacturing technologies of nanoscaled materials and systems including one-dimensional nanostructures, nanoparticle-based composites, electrospinning of nanofibers, functional thin films, ceramic membranes, bioactive materials and self-assembled functional nanostructures and nanodevices. These papers discuss several important aspects related to fabrication and engineering issues necessary for understanding and further development of processing and manufacturing of nanostructured materials and systems.

In recent years, the application of composite materials has increased in various areas of science and technology due to their special properties, namely for use in the aircraft, automotive, defence, aerospace and other advanced industries. Machining composite materials is quite a complex task owing to its heterogenity, and to the fact that reinforcements are extremely abrasive. In modern engineering, high demands are placed on components made of composites in relation to their dimensional precision as well as their surface quality. Due to these potential applications, there is a great need to understand the questions associated with machining composite materials. This book aims to provide the fundamentals and the recent advances in the machining of composite materials (polymers, metals and ceramics) for modern manufacturing engineering. The three parts of the book cover the machining of polymeric, metal and ceramic matrix composites. This book can be used as a text book for the final year of an undergraduate engineering course or for those studying machining/composites at the postgraduate level. It can also serve as a useful work of reference for academics, manufacturing and materials researchers, manufacturing and mechanical engineers, and professionals in composite technology and related industries.

With its content taken from only the very latest results, this is an extensive summary of the various polymeric materials used for biomedical applications. Following an introduction listing various functional polymers, including conductive, biocompatible and conjugated polymers, the book goes on to discuss different synthetic polymers that can be used, for example, as hydrogels, biochemical sensors, functional surfaces, and natural degradable materials. Throughout, the focus is on applications, with worked examples for training purposes as well as case studies included. The whole is rounded off with a look at future trends.

This book helps students and practicing scientists alike understand that a comprehensive knowledge about the friction and wear properties of advanced materials is essential to further design and development of new materials. With important introductory chapters on the fundamentals, processing, and applications of tribology, the book then examines in detail the nature and properties of materials, the friction and wear of structural ceramics, bioceramics, biocomposites, and nanoceramics, as well as lightweight composites and the friction and wear of ceramics in a cryogenic environment.

The Handbook of Composites From Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The handbook covers a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials. Together, the 8 volumes total at least 5000 pages and offers a unique publication. This 6th volume Handbook is solely focused on Polymeric Composites. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: Keratin as renewable material for developing polymer composites; natural and synthetic matrices; hydrogels in tissue engineering; smart hydrogels: application in bioethanol production; principle renewable biopolymers; application of hydrogel biocomposites for multiple drug delivery; nontoxic holographic materials; bioplasticizer – epoxidized vegetable oils-based poly (lactic acid) blends and nanocomposites; preparation, characterization and adsorption properties of poly (DMAEA) – cross-linked starch gel copolymer in waste water treatments; study of chitosan crosslinking hydrogels for absorption of antifungal drugs using molecular modelling; pharmaceutical delivery systems composed of chitosan; eco-friendly polymers for food packaging; influence of surface modification on the thermal stability and percentage of crystallinity of natural abaca fiber; influence of the use of natural fibers in composite materials assessed on a life cycle perspective; plant polysaccharides-blended ionotropically-gelled alginate multiple-unit systems for sustained drug release; vegetable oil based polymer composites; applications of chitosan derivatives in wastewater treatment; novel lignin-based materials as a products for various applications; biopolymers from renewable resources and thermoplastic starch matrix as polymer units of multi-component polymer systems for advanced applications; chitosan composites: preparation and applications in removing water pollutants and recent advancements in biopolymer composites for addressing environmental issues.

The Handbook of Composites From Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The handbook covers a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials. Together, the 8 volumes total at least 5000 pages and offers a unique publication. Volume 1 is solely focused on the Structure and Chemistry of renewable materials. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: carbon fibers from sustainable resources; polylactic acid composites and composite foams based on natural fibres; composites materials from other than cellulosic resources; microcrystalline cellulose and related polymer composites; tannin-based foam; renewable feedstock vanillin derived polymer and composites; silk biocomposites; bio-derived adhesives and matrix polymers; biomass based formaldehyde-free bio-resin ; isolation and characterization of water soluble polysaccharide; bio-based fillers; keratin based materials in biotechnology; structure of proteins adsorbed onto bioactive glasses for sustainable composite; effect of filler properties on the antioxidant response of starch composites; composite of chitosan and its derivate; magnetic biochar from discarded agricultural biomass; biodegradable polymers for protein and peptide conjugation; polyurethanes and polyurethane composites from bio-based / recycled components.

The symposia Advances in Electroceramics and Microwave Materials and Their Applications were held during the 8th Pacific Rim Conference on Ceramic and Glass Technology (PACRIM 8) from May 31-June 5, 2009 in Vancouver, Canada. This issue contains 17 peer-reviewed papers (invited and contributed) from these two symposia. The book is logically organized and carefully selected articles give insight into multifunctional materials and systems and incorporates the latest developments related to multifunctional materials and systems including electroceramics and microwave materials.

The Handbook of Composites From Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The handbook covers a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials. Together, the 8 volumes total at least 5000 pages and offers a unique publication. This 2nd volume of the Handbook is solely focused on the Design and Manufacturing of renewable materials. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: design and manufacturing of high performance green composites; manufacturing of high performance biomass-based polyesters by rheological approach; components design of fibrous composite materials; design and manufacturing of bio-based sandwich structures; design and manufacture of biodegradable products from renewable resources; manufacturing and characterization of quicklime filled metal alloy composites for single row deep groove ball bearing; manufacturing of composites from chicken feathers and poly (vinyl chloride); production of porous carbons from resorcinol-formaldehyde gels: applications; composites using agricultural wastes; manufacturing of rice wastes-based natural fiber polymer composites from thermosetting vs. thermoplastic matrices; thermoplastic polymeric composites; natural fiber reinforced PLA composites; rigid closed-cell PUR foams containing polyols derived from renewable resources; preparation and application of the composite from alginate; recent developments in biocomposites of bombyx mori silk fibroin; design and manufacturing of natural fiber/ synthetic fiber reinforced polymer hybrid composites; natural fibre composite strengthening solution for structural beam component for enhanced flexural strength; high pressure resin transfer molding of epoxy resins from renewable sources; cork based structural composites; the use of wheat straw as an agricultural waste in composites for semi-structural applications and design/ manufacturing of sustainable composites.

The Handbook of Composites From Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The handbook covers a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials. Together, the 8 volumes total at least 5000 pages and offers a unique publication. This 5th volume Handbook is solely focused on Biodegradable Materials. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: Rice husk and its composites; biodegradable composites based on thermoplastic starch and talc nanoparticles; recent progress in biocomposites of biodegradable polymer; microbial polyesters: production and market; biodegradable and bio absorbable materials for osteosynthesis applications; biodegradable polymers in tissue engineering; composites based on hydroxyapatite and biodegradable polylactide; biodegradable composites; development of membranes from bio-based materials and their applications; green biodegradable composites based on natural fibers; fully biodegradable all-cellulose composites; natural fiber composites with bio-derivative and/or degradable polymers; synthetic biodegradable polymers for bone tissue engineering; polysaccharides as green biodegradable platforms for building-up electroactive composite materials; biodegradable polymer blends and composites from seaweeds; biocomposites scaffolds derived from renewable resources for bone tissue repair ; pectin-based composites; recent advances in conductive composites based on biodegradable polymers for regenerative medicine applications; biosynthesis of PHAs and their biomedical applications; biodegradable soy protein isolate/poly (vinyl alcohol) packaging films and biodegradability of bio-based polymeric materials in natural environment.