Smart Colloidal Materials

This volume contains selected papers presented at the 42nd Biennial Meeting of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft held at the RWTH Aachen University September 26-28, 2005. The contributions in this volume represent the diversity of research topics in colloid and polymer science. They include the investigation of synthesis and properties of advanced temperature sensitive particles and their biomedical applications, drug delivery systems, foams, capsules, vesicles and gels, polyelectrolytes, nanoparticles surfactants and hybrid materials.

This volume contains selected papers presented at the 42nd Biennial Meeting of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft held at the RWTH Aachen University September 26-28, 2005. The contributions in this volume represent the diversity of research topics in colloid and polymer science. They include the investigation of synthesis and properties of advanced temperature sensitive particles and their biomedical applications, drug delivery systems, foams, capsules, vesicles and gels, polyelectrolytes, nanoparticles surfactants and hybrid materials.

Smart materials have been categorized employing taxonomical methods used in classification of cybernetics systems. This approach has allowed the systematization of the variety of smart materials (both developed and conceptualized) as well to substantiate the three-stage process of the materials’ making. This book proposes a phenomenological model describing smart materials.

This is the first book to provide an integrated introduction to the nature, formation and occurrence, stability, propagation, and uses of the most common types of colloidal dispersion in the process-related industries. The primary focus is on the applications of the principles, paying attention to practical processes and problems. This is done both as part of the treatment of the fundamentals, where appropriate, and also in the separate sections devoted to specifi c kinds of industries. Throughout, the treatment is integrated, with the principles of colloid and interface science common to each dispersion type presented for each major physical property class, followed by separate treatments of features unique to emulsions, foams, or suspensions. The first half of the book introduces the fundamental principles, introducing readers to suspension formation and stability, characterization, and fl ow properties, emphasizing practical aspects throughout. The following chapters discuss a wide range of industrial applications and examples, serving to emphasize the diff erent methodologies that have been successfully applied. The author assumes no prior knowledge of colloid chemistry and, with its glossary of key terms, complete cross-referencing and indexing, this is a must-have for graduate and professional scientists and engineers who may encounter or use emulsions, foams, or suspensions, or combinations thereof, whether in process design, industrial production, or in related R&D fields.

This volume of Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science assembles original contributions and invited reviews from the priority research program "Intelligent Hydrogels", funded by the German Science Foundation DFG since 2006, with about 25 contributing research groups. In the center of interest of this program and the present book are responsive hydrogels, i.e. hydrophilic polymer or polyelectrolyte networks that are able to respond to environmental stimuli such as changes in temperature, pH, additive concentration or electrical field. The activities focus on different aspects: on hydrogel synthesis, on the modeling and simulation of thermophysical hydrogel properties, as well as on innovative new hydrogel applications as smart materials. The present book summarizes the highlights in the results of the priority program in original contributions and invited reviews.

In chapters contributed by 24 university & government laboratories, Nanoengineering of Structural, Functional, and Smart Materials combines wide-ranging research aimed at the development of multifunctional materials that are strong, lightweight, and versatile. This book explores promising and diverse approaches to the design of nanoscale

During the past 100 years, a large number of new materials have been developed, which provide us with various tools, wares, clothes, etc. with good properties but low weight and low cost. Recently, smart soft materials that can respond to an external stimulus (such as an electric field, magnetic field, sound, light, temperature, pH, and so on) as well as functional soft materials that are electronically, magnetically, or thermally conductive have attracted considerable attention. They have application potentials in various fields. To some extent, they are the way to fulfill most of the "black technology" described in the world of science fiction. This book introduces several smart soft materials and functional soft materials, which are of interest to scholars in related fields.