Engineering of Natural Polymeric Gels and Aerogels for Multifunctional Applications brings together detailed information on gels, hydrogels, and aerogels derived from natural polymers, covering materials, processing, fabrication techniques, structure-property relationships, and novel applications.The book begins by introducing polymeric gels, hydrogels, and aerogels, the different types and properties, advantages and disadvantages, manufacturing techniques, production and scalability, and the possible applications. This is followed by thorough coverage of processing methods for obtaining natural polymer-based gels and hydrogels, with separate chapters focusing on physical processes, chemical processes, green processes, and processing for aerogels. The final chapters of the book focus on the preparation of natural polymer-based gels, hydrogels, and aerogels for many state-of-the-art applications, including biomedical, absorbent, energy saving, filtration, and sensing areas.Engineering of Natural Polymeric Gels and Aerogels for Multifunctional Applications is an essential resource for all those with an interest in polymeric gels and natural polymers, including researchers and scientists in polymer engineering, polymer chemistry, sustainable materials, biomaterials, materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering. In industry, this book supports scientists, R&D, and engineers looking to utilize novel bio-based materials for advanced applications. - Covers the physical, chemical, and green processing methods for obtaining gels, hydrogels, and aerogels from natural polymers - Explores a range of cutting-edge uses, including in biomedical, absorbent, energy-saving, filtration, and bio-sensing applications - Presents the latest innovations in the field, including the preparation of lightweight, highly open porous polysaccharide and protein aerogels

This indispensable handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the current state-of-the-art in inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels – from synthesis and characterization to cutting-edge applications and their potential market impact. Built upon Springer’s successful Aerogels Handbook published in 2011, this handbook features extensive revisions and timely updates, reflecting the changes in this fast-growing field. Aerogels are the lightest solids known to man. Up to 1000 times lighter than glass and with a density only four times that of air, they possess extraordinarily high thermal, electrical, and acoustic insulation properties, and boast numerous entries in Guinness World Records. Originally based on silica, R&D efforts have extended this class of materials to incorporate non-silicate inorganic oxides, natural and synthetic organic polymers, carbon, metal, and ceramic materials. Composite systems involving polymer-crosslinked aerogels and interpenetrating hybrid networks have been developed and exhibit remarkable mechanical strength and flexibility. Even more exotic aerogels based on clays, chalcogenides, phosphides, quantum dots, and biopolymers such as chitosan are opening new applications for the construction, transportation, energy, defense and healthcare industries. Applications in electronics, chemistry, mechanics, engineering, energy production and storage, sensors, medicine, nanotechnology, military and aerospace, oil and gas recovery, thermal insulation, and household uses are being developed. Readers of this fully updated and expanded edition will find an exhaustive source for all aerogel materials known today, their fabrication, upscaling aspects, physical and chemical properties, and the most recent advances towards applications and commercial use. This key reference is essential reading for a combined audience of graduate students, academic researchers, and industry professionals.

Polymeric foams or cellular or expanded polymers have characteristics that makes their usage possible for several industrial and household purposes. This book is focused on the recent advancements in the synthesis of polymer foams, various foaming methods, foaming technology, mechanical and physical properties, and the wide variety of its applications. Divided into 11 chapters, it explains empirical models connecting the geometrical structure of foams with their properties including structure-property relations. This book: Describes functional foams, their manufacturing methods, properties, and applications. Covers various blowing agents, greener methods for foaming, and their emerging applicability. Illustrates comparative information regarding polymeric foams and their recent developments with polymer nanocomposite foams. Includes applications in mechanical, civil, biomedical, food packaging, electronics, health care industry, and acoustics fields. Reviews elastomeric foams and their nanocomposite derivatives. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in materials science, mechanical engineering, and polymer science.

Advances in Aerogel Composites for Environmental Remediation presents both contextual information about aerogels and details about their application in environmental remediation. A wide variety of aerogels are discussed, ranging from common to advanced and from natural to synthetic. By exploring ongoing research and developments in the environmental remediation technologies using aerogel and its composites, this book addresses common day-to-day environmental problems and presents solutions to the use of aerogel materials. The chapters discuss fabrication of various aerogel composites, along with their design and applications toward different environmental remediation technologies. Additionally, the properties and advantages of aerogels are compared and contrasted to those of traditional materials. Given the consistent increase in environmental pollution, there is an urgent need to explore new materials for advances in remediation technology. Advances in Aerogel Composites for Environmental Remediation brings researchers and practitioners in the fields of environmental remediation, environmental science, and engineering to the forefront of remediation technologies with a thorough breakdown of the benefits of and techniques relevant to aerogel composites. Covers basic properties, unique properties, and fabrication techniques of aerogels, from basic silica aerogels to present-day conventional aerogels Discusses most of the major environmental remediation techniques and the advantages of using aerogels for these remediation techniques in comparison to using traditional methods Presents future prospects for utilizing aerogels in modern day-to-day life and in the fabrication of tangible new products

Multifunctional Polymeric Nanocomposites Based on Cellulosic Reinforcements introduces the innovative applications of polymeric materials based on nanocellulose, and covers extraction methods, functionalization approaches, and assembly methods to enable these applications. The book presents the state-of-the-art of this novel nano-filler and how it enables new applications in many different sectors, beyond existing products. With a focus on application of nano-cellulose based polymers with multifunctional activity, the book explains the methodology of nano-cellulose extraction and production and shows the potential performance benefits of these particular nanostructured polymers, for applications across different sectors, including food active packaging, energy-photovoltaics, biomedical, and filtration. The book describes how the different methodologies, functionalization, and organization at the nano-scale level could contribute to the design of required properties at macro level. The book studies the interactions between the main nano-filler with other active systems and how this interaction enables multi-functionality in the produced materials. The book is an indispensable resource for the growing number of scientists and engineers interested in the preparation and novel applications of nano-cellulose, and for industrial scientists active in formulation and fabrication of polymer products based on renewable resources. - Provides insight into nanostructure formation science, and processing of polymeric materials and their characterization - Offers a strong analysis of real industry needs for designing the materials - Provides a well-balanced structure, including a light introduction of basic knowledge on extraction methods, functionalization approaches, and assembling focused to applications - Describes how different methodologies, functionalization, and organization at the nano-scale level could contribute to the design of required properties at macro level

Hydrogels Based on Natural Polymers presents the latest research on natural polymer-based hydrogels, covering fundamentals, preparation methods, synthetic pathways, advanced properties, major application areas, and novel characterization techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of each natural polymer-based hydrogel are also discussed, enabling preparation tactics for specific properties and applications. Sections cover fundamentals, development, characteristics, structures and properties. Additional chapters cover presentation methods and properties based on natural polymers, including physical and chemical properties, stimuli-responsive properties, self-healing properties, and biological properties. The final section presents major applications areas, including the biomedical field, agriculture, water treatments, and the food industry. This is a highly valuable resource for academic researchers, scientists and advanced students working with hydrogels and natural polymers, as well as across the fields of polymer science, polymer chemistry, plastics engineering, biopolymers and biomaterials. The detailed information will also be of great interest to scientists and R&D professionals, product designers, technicians and engineers across industries. - Provides systematic coverage of all aspects of hydrogels based on natural polymers, including fundamentals, preparation methods, properties and characterization - Offers a balanced assessment of the specific properties and possibilities offered by different natural polymer-based hydrogels, drawing on innovative research - Examines cutting-edge applications across biomedicine, agriculture, water treatments, and the food industry

Aerogels are the lightest solids known. Up to 1000 times lighter than glass and with a density as low as only four times that of air, they show very high thermal, electrical and acoustic insulation values and hold many entries in Guinness World Records. Originally based on silica, R&D efforts have extended this class of materials to non-silicate inorganic oxides, natural and synthetic organic polymers, carbon, metal and ceramic materials, etc. Composite systems involving polymer-crosslinked aerogels and interpenetrating hybrid networks have been developed and exhibit remarkable mechanical strength and flexibility. Even more exotic aerogels based on clays, chalcogenides, phosphides, quantum dots, and biopolymers such as chitosan are opening new applications for the construction, transportation, energy, defense and healthcare industries. Applications in electronics, chemistry, mechanics, engineering, energy production and storage, sensors, medicine, nanotechnology, military and aerospace, oil and gas recovery, thermal insulation and household uses are being developed with an estimated annual market growth rate of around 70% until 2015. The Aerogels Handbook summarizes state-of-the-art developments and processing of inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels, including the most important methods of synthesis, characterization as well as their typical applications and their possible market impact. Readers will find an exhaustive overview of all aerogel materials known today, their fabrication, upscaling aspects, physical and chemical properties, and most recent advances towards applications and commercial products, some of which are commercially available today. Key Features: •Edited and written by recognized worldwide leaders in the field •Appeals to a broad audience of materials scientists, chemists, and engineers in academic research and industrial R&D •Covers inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels •Describes military, aerospace, building industry, household, environmental, energy, and biomedical applications among others