Structural Nanocomposites

Advancements in the nanotechnology industry promise to offer improvements in capabilities across a spectrum of applications. This is of immense strategic importance to the high performance sector which has historically leveraged technological advances. The use of polymer nanocomposites in structures have several predictable impacts on structural design and applications, primarily by providing a safer, faster, and eventually cheaper transportation in the future. This books comprises reviews on the state-of-the-art, new research results, perspectives of future developments, and innovative applications relevant to structural materials, engineering structures, nanocomposites, modelling and simulations, and their related application areas.

This comprehensive reference book incorporates the latest developments in the synthesis, production, characterization, and application of various types of polymeric nanocomposites. It outlines the various preparation techniques using different types of nanoparticles and polymer matrices with emphasis on clay nanoparticles. All fundamental issues such as thermodynamics, kinetics, and rheology are discussed and the structure and the characterization of polymeric nanocomposites, including their molecular characteristics, thermal properties, morphology, and mechanical properties, are covered in great detail. Contents: Nanocomposites - Preparation and Synthesis Fundamental Issues in Nanocomposite Synthesis Rheology of Nanocomposites Processing of Nanocomposites Structure and Properties Characterization Nanocomposite Properties and Structure/Property Relations Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites

Innovative Developments of Advanced Multifunctional Nanocomposites in Civil and Structural Engineering focuses on nanotechnology, the innovation and control of materials at 100 nm or smaller length scales, and how they have revolutionized almost all of the various disciplines of science and engineering study. In particular, advances in synthesizing, imaging, and manipulating materials at the nano-scale have provided engineers with a broader array of materials and tools for creating high-performance devices. Nanomaterials possess drastically different properties than those of their bulk counterparts mainly because of their high surface-to-mass ratios and high surface energies/reactivity. For instance, carbon nanotubes have been shown to possess impressive mechanical strength, stiffness, and electrical conductivity superior to that of bulk carbon. Whilst nanotechnology has become deeply rooted in electrical, chemical, and materials engineering disciplines, its proliferation into civil engineering did not begin until fairly recently. This book covers that proliferation and the main challenges associated with the integration of nanomaterials and nano-scale design principles into civil and structural engineering. Examines nanotechnology and its application to not only structural engineering, but also transportation, new infrastructure materials, and the applications of nanotechnology to existing structural systems Focuses on how nanomaterials can provide enhanced sensing capabilities and mechanical reinforcement of the original structural material Analyzes experimental and computational work carried out by world-renowned researchers

Nanocomposites-Advanced Materials for Energy and Environmental Aspects provides a brief introduction to metal oxides. The book then discusses novel fabrication methodologies and eco-friendly methods for using a broad range of metal oxide-based nanocomposites in innovative ways. Key aspects include fundamental characteristics of environmentally sustainable fabrication of materials for solar power, power generation and the textiles industries. Commercialization and economic aspects that are currently of major significance are also discussed in detail. The book represents an important information resource for material scientists and engineers to create the next generation of products and devices for energy and environmental applications. Metal and metal oxide-based nanocomposites are at the heart of some of the most exciting developments in the field of energy and environmental research. They have exceptional properties and are utilized in electronic and environmental sensing devices, for energy storage, electrode materials, fuel cells, membranes, and more. Covers fabrication, standard characterization and photocatalytic mechanism for a wide range of applications Includes broad ranging metal and metal oxide-based applications covering environmental, energy, electronics, oil, gas, water treatment and sensing Evaluates dye consumption in the textiles industries and the energy related research that will determine options for sustainable and transformational opportunities

Polymer Hybrid Materials and Composites: Fundamentals and Applications presents an introduction to the principles behind polymeric hybrid materials, providing both theoretical and practical information on the synthesis and application of these materials. It documents the latest innovations, ranging from materials development and characterization of properties, to applications. Sections cover the route from laboratory to industry, providing practical, actionable guidance to assist the scaling up process for applications in areas including energy technology, solar cells, water purification, medical devices, optical and electrical devices, and more. It is an essential introduction to the emerging technologies that are made possible by these advanced materials. Documents the latest innovations in the technology, thus enabling new applications Provides significant and detailed information on the engineering of hybrid materials for a wide range of areas, including energy, medical, and electronics, among others

Shape Memory Polymer derived Nanocomposites: Features to Cutting-Edge Advancements summarizes the up-to-date of fundamentals and applications of the shape memory polymer derived nanocomposites. Design and fabrication of shape memory polymeric nanocomposites have gained significant importance in the field of up-to-date nano/materials science and technology. In recent times, the shape memory polymers and nanocomposites have attracted considerable academic and industrial research interest. This feature book will present a state-of-the-art assessment on the versatile shape memory materials. The flexibility, durability, heat stability, shape deformability, and shape memory features of these polymers have shown dramatic improvements with the nanofiller addition. Appropriate choice of the stimuli-responsive polymer, nanofiller type and content, and fabrication strategies may lead to enhanced physicochemical features and stimuli-responsive performance. Several successful stimuli-responsive effects have been achieved in the shape memory nanocomposites such as thermo-responsive, electro-active, photo-active, water/moisture-responsive, pH-sensitive, etc. Consequently, the shape memory polymer based nanocomposites have found applications in high-tech devices and applications. This book initially offers a futuristic knowledge regarding indispensable features of the shape memory polymeric nanocomposites. Afterwards, the essential categories of the stimuli-responsive polymer-based nanocomposites have been discussed in terms of recent scientific literature. Subsequent sections of this book are dedicated to the potential of shape memory polymer-based nanocomposite in various technical fields. Significant application areas have been identified as foam materials, aerospace, radiation shielding, sensor, actuator, supercapacitor, electronics and biomedical relevance. The book chapters also point towards the predictable challenges and future opportunities in the field of shape memory nanocomposites. Provides the essentials of shape memory polymeric nanocomposites Includes important categories of shape memory nanocomposites Presents current technological applications of shape memory polymers and derived nanocomposite in sponges, aerospace, EMI shielding, ionizing radiation shielding, sensors, actuator, supercapacitor, electronics, and biomedical fields

Glass Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications provides the latest information on a rapidly growing field of specialized materials, bringing light to new research findings that include a growing number of technologies and applications. With this growth, a new need for deep understanding of the synthesis methods, composite structure, processing and application of glass nanocomposites has emerged. In the book, world renowned experts in the field, Professors Karmakar, Rademann, and Stepanov, fill the knowledge gap, building a bridge between the areas of nanoscience, photonics, and glass technology. The book covers the fundamentals, synthesis, processing, material properties, structure property correlation, interpretation thereof, characterization, and a wide range of applications of glass nanocomposites in many different devices and branches of technology. Recent developments and future directions of all types of glass nanocomposites, such as metal-glasses (e.g., metal nanowire composites, nanoglass-mesoporous silica composites), semiconductor-glass and ceramic-glass nanocomposites, as well as oxide and non-oxide glasses, are also covered in great depth. Each chapter is logically structured in order to increase coherence, with each including question sets as exercises for a deeper understanding of the text. Provides comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge and literature review for both the oxide and non-oxide glass nanocomposites (i.e., practically all types of glass nanocomposites) Reviews a wide range of synthesis types, properties, characterization, and applications of diverse types of glass nanocomposites Presents future directions of glass nanocomposites for researchers and engineers, as well as question sets for use in university courses

Nanocomposites have been receiving more and more attention given the improvement of synthesis techniques and the availability of powerful characterization techniques. The aim of the book is to introduce nanocomposite materials using a broad range of inorganic and organic solids. It also presents recent and not very common developments in especially spectroscopic characterization techniques, including Mössbauer, EXAFS, NMR. This should make the book attractive for a broad range of readers, including chemists and physicists.