This book combines theoretical explanations of the reactions of light and polymeric materials with development of light responsive polymeric materials for various practical applications. Photo associated reactions and light responsive materials have great potential to improve existing industrial processes, including capturing solar energy. This book presents a range of reactions and materials with some of the most exciting current and future applications.

Photoinitiators A comprehensive text that covers everything from the processes and mechanisms to the reactions and industrial applications of photoinitiators Photoinitiators offers a wide-ranging overview of existing photoinitiators and photoinitiating systems and their uses in ever-growing green technologies. The authors—noted experts on the topic—provide a concise review of the backgrounds in photopolymerization and photochemistry, explain the available structures, and examine the excited state properties, involved mechanisms, and structure, reactivity, and efficiency relationships. The text also contains information on the latest developments and trends in the design of novel tailor-made systems. The book explores the role of current systems in existing and emerging processes and applications. Comprehensive in scope, it covers polymerization of thick samples and in-shadow areas, polymerization under LEDs, NIR light induced thermal polymerization, photoinitiators for novel specific and improved properties, and much more. Written by an experienced and internationally renowned team of authors, this important book: Provides detailed information about excited state processes, mechanisms and design of efficient photoinitiator systems Discusses the performance of photoinitiators of polymerization by numerous examples of reactions and application Includes information on industrial applications Presents a review of current developments and challenges Offers an introduction to the background information necessary to understand thefield The role played by photoinitiators in a variety of different polymerization reactions Written for polymer chemists, photochemists, and materials scientists, Photoinitiators will also earn a place in the libraries of photochemists seeking an authoritative, one-stop guide to the processes, mechanisms, and industrial applications of photoinitiators.

Presenting a unique perspective on state-of-the-art physical gels, this interdisciplinary guide provides a complete, critical analysis of the field and highlights recent developments. It shows the interconnections between the key aspects of gels, from molecules and structure through to rheological and functional properties, with each chapter focusing on a different class of gel. There is also a final chapter covering innovative systems and applications, providing the information needed to understand current and future practical applications of gels in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic, chemical and food industries. Many research teams are involved in the field of gels, including theoreticians, experimentalists and chemical engineers, but this interdisciplinary book collates and rationalises the many different points of view to provide a clear understanding of these complex systems for researchers and graduate students.

Polymers are used in everything from nylon stockings to commercial aircraft to artificial heart valves, and they have a key role in addressing international competitiveness and other national issues. Polymer Science and Engineering explores the universe of polymers, describing their properties and wide-ranging potential, and presents the state of the science, with a hard look at downward trends in research support. Leading experts offer findings, recommendations, and research directions. Lively vignettes provide snapshots of polymers in everyday applications. The volume includes an overview of the use of polymers in such fields as medicine and biotechnology, information and communication, housing and construction, energy and transportation, national defense, and environmental protection. The committee looks at the various classes of polymersâ€"plastics, fibers, composites, and other materials, as well as polymers used as membranes and coatingsâ€"and how their composition and specific methods of processing result in unparalleled usefulness. The reader can also learn the science behind the technology, including efforts to model polymer synthesis after nature's methods, and breakthroughs in characterizing polymer properties needed for twenty-first-century applications. This informative volume will be important to chemists, engineers, materials scientists, researchers, industrialists, and policymakers interested in the role of polymers, as well as to science and engineering educators and students.

"In the search for sustainable materials, natural polymers present an attractive alternative for many applications compared to their synthetic counterparts derived from petrochemicals. The two volume set, Natural Polymers, covers the synthesis, characterisation and applications of key natural polymeric systems including their morphology, structure, dynamics and properties. Volume one focuses on natural polymer composites, including both natural and protein fibres, and volume two on natural polymer nanocomposites. The first volume examines the characterization, life cycle assessment and new sources of natural fibres and their potential as a replacement for synthetic fibres in industrial applications. It then explores the important advancements in the field of wool, silk, spidersilk and mussel byssus fibres. The second volume looks at the properties and characterization of cellulose, chitosan, furanic, starch, wool and silk nanocomposites and the potential industrial applications of natural polymer nanocomposites"-- Provided by publisher.