Nanocomposites ― Materials, Manufacturing and Engineering

Nanocomposites are defined by editors Davim and Charitidis (Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Athens, Greece, respectively) as a multiphase solid material where one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of the phases or repeat distances smaller than 100nm. Nanocomposites have become vital in many fields of industry ranging from coatings to medicine. This book covers the topic in six chapters. The first is on ceramic hollow nanocomposites which are valuable for light weight and the ability to be filled with many other useful substances. Chapter two covers polyurethane nanocomposites, especially their use as nanofillers (one phase in a multiphase nanocomposite). The third chapter covers combinations of polyurethane with organoclays, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers. Chapter four covers mechanical properties and wear in multiphase nanocomposites. Chapter five discusses computer modelling of nanocomposites with considerable mathematical and theoretical rigor. The final chapter deals with polyaniline derivatives and carbon nanotubes. There is an emphasis here on techniques of analysis such as UV spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and characterization of conductivity. The figures are primarily in b&w due to the reliance on electron microscopy but color is used in the graphs and diagrams. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

J. Paulo Davim,University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Constantinos A. Charitidis, Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.