This book provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of advances in the research of nanophase and nanocomposites. The term 'nanophase' refers to nanoscale particles of one phase, whereas the term 'nanocomposite'refers to a composite of more than one Gibbsian solid phase where at least one dimension is in the nanometer range. The book, the second in a series, features reports showing that bulk materials with nanostructure (‹ 0.5µm) often have enhanced and unique properties when compared to their coarse-structured (›1µm) equivalents. A wide range of science and engineering disciplines are represented, with topics ranging from synthesis and processing, to properties and applications. Topics include: nanophase oxides; nanophase metals, alloys and non-oxides; nanophases - simulation studies; magnetic and metal nanocomposites; oxide, non-oxide and oxide-metal nanocomposites; organic-inorganic and sol-gel nanocomposites; and nanocomposites of layered and mesoporous materials.

Incorporation of particular components with specialized properties allows one to tailor the end product's properties. For instance, the sensitivity, burning behavior, thermal or mechanical properties or stability of energetic materials can be affected and even controllably varied through incorporation of such ingredients. This book examines particle technologies as applied to energetic materials such as propellants and explosives, thus filling a void in the literature on this subject. Following an introduction covering general features of energetic materials, the first section of this book describes methods of manufacturing particulate energetic materials, including size reduction, crystallization, atomization, particle formation using supercritical fluids and microencapsulation, agglomeration phenomena, special considerations in mixing explosive particles and the production of nanoparticles. The second section discusses the characterization of particulate materials. Techniques and methods such as particle size analysis, morphology elucidation and the determination of chemical and thermal properties are presented. The wettability of powders and rheological behavior of suspensions and solids are also considered. Furthermore, methods of determining the performance of particular energetic materials are described. Each chapter deals with fundamentals and application possibilities of the various methods presented, with particular emphasis on issues applicable to particulate energetic materials. The book is thus equally relevant for chemists, physicists, material scientists, chemical and mechanical engineers and anyone interested or engaged in particle processing and characterization technologies.

This is a very comprehensive book and represents the forefront of the technology of Clay-Containing Polymeric Nanocomposites.