This is an updated version of the book first published in 1995. The use of particulate fillers in polymers has a long history, and they continue to play a very important role today. In the relatively short time since the publication of the first edition of this book, much has changed and all the chapters have been updated and revised, and a completely new chapter covering the latest developments in nano-filler technology is included. The aim of this book is to provide a guide to the fundamentals of the use of particulate fillers, which is accessible to people from the many different industries and disciplines who have an interest in the subject. Chapters cover: Selection and Use of Particulate Fillers Types of Particulate Filler Filler Surfaces and their Characterisation Surface Modification and Surface Modifiers Preparation and Mixture Characterisation of Mineral Filler Polymer Compounds Particulate Fillers as Flame Retardants Particulate Fillers in Elastomers Particulate Fillers in Thermoplastics Particulate Fillers in Thermosets Composites Using Nano-Fillers

This handbook provides an introduction to and reference information about the science behind the production and use of particulate fillers in polymer applications. Fillers play an important role and are used with practically all types of polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers.Readers will find an introduction to the topic of particulate fillers for polymer applications and their importance. The first chapters describe the use and characteristics of fillers in different polymer types, such as thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. The following chapters compile and summarize comprehensive information about different filler materials which find application nowadays, including mineral fillers (for example feldspars, wollastonites, and many more) and inorganic fillers (barium sulphate, or clays), bio-fillers, recycled and sustainable fillers, and fillers for specific applications (for example flame-retardant fillers, fillers for electrically conductive applications, or thermally conductive additives).Offering key information, compiled by a mixed team of authors from academia and industry, this handbook will appeal to researchers and professionals working on and with particulate polymer fillers alike.

The rheology of filled polymer systems is an ever expanding field in the polymer industry today. Using a concise, practical and simple format this comprehensive work explains the concepts behind filled polymer systems and the rheological techniques involved in studying their behaviour. Aware that the readers of the book may come from differing background, the first three chapters familiarize the reader with the basics about polymers, fillers and physicochemical interactions between them, rheology and rheometry. Covering such topics as preparation of filled polymer systems, steady shear viscous properties and extentional flow properties, this book covers the areas of importance from an introductory level through to more complex issues.

This book deals with the new and now-expanding field of friction, wear, and other surface-related mechanical phenomena for polymers. Polymers have been used in various forms such as bulk, films, and composites in applications where their friction, wear resistance, and other surface-related properties have been effectively utilized. There are also many examples in which polymers have performed extremely well, such as in tyres, shoes, brakes, gears, bearings, small moving parts in electronics and MEMS, cosmetics/hair products, and artificial human joints. Around the world, much research is currently being undertaken to develop new polymers, in different forms, for further enhancing tribological performance and for finding novel applications. Keeping in view the importance of tribology of polymers for research and technology as well as the vast literature that is now available in research papers and review articles, this timely book brings together a wealth of research data for an understanding of the basic principles of the subject.

In recent years, a growing number of engineering applications of light weight and energy efficient plastics can be found in high quality parts vital to the func tioning of entire equipments and structures. Improved mechanical properties, especially balance of stiffness and toughness, are among the most frequently desired features of the new materials. In addition, reduced flammability is con sidered the single most important requirement for further expansion of plastics into large volume and demanding markets such as construction and mass trans port. Production of power cables also requires flame retardant cable jacketing plastics to replace or at least to reduce consumption of environmentally unsound PVC. The two principal ways to achieve the goals mentioned above include the development of completely new thermoplastic polymers and various modifica tions of the existing ones. Development and commercialization of a new ther moplastic require mobilization of large human and financial resources, the lat ter being within the range from $100 million to $10 billion, in comparison to $100 thousand to $10 million needed to develop and commercialize polymeric mate rial with prescribed end use properties using physical or chemical modification of an existing plastic. In addition, the various markets utilizing thermoplastics demand large flexibility in material properties with only moderate volumes, at the best.

The Encyclopedia of Polymers and Composites provides all details of Polymeric Materials Science and Technology including historical developments, present status, and future potential. In 15 volumes, the Encyclopedia of Polymers and Composites covers: polymeric materials, engineering polymer blends, particulate and fibrous polymeric composite materials, that are the key materials for technology in the 21st Century. Fundamentals of structure of these materials are presented. Properties and effects of various parameters, like time and temperature on them are explained. Testing and Characterization of these materials as per global standard for various applications is presented. Individual polymers, blends, and composites are described, and several representative examples are also provided. The Encyclopedia also provides directions for future developments. It is organized in alphabetical order.

My heart sank when I was approached by Dr Hastings and by Professor Briggs (Senior Editor of Materials Science and Technology and Series Editor of Polymer Science and Technology Series at Chapman & Hall, respectively) to edit a book with the provisional title Handbook of Poly propylene. My reluctance was due to the fact that my former book [1] along with that of Moore [2], issued in the meantime, seemed to cover the information demand on polypropylene and related systems. Encour aged, however, by some colleagues (the new generation of scientists and engineers needs a good reference book with easy information retrieval, and the development with metallocene catalysts deserves a new update!), I started on this venture. Having some experience with polypropylene systems and being aware of the current literature, it was easy to settle the titles for the book chapters and also to select and approach the most suitable potential contributors. Fortunately, many of my first-choice authors accepted the invitation to contribute. Like all editors of multi-author volumes, I recognize that obtaining contributors follows an S-type curve of asymptotic saturation when the number of willing contributors is plotted as a function of time. The saturation point is, however, never reached and as a consequence, Dear Reader, you will also find some topics of some relevance which are not explicitly treated in this book (but, believe me, I have considered them).

In-depth knowledge on tribological applications of hybrid composites Synthesis and Tribological Applications of Hybrid Materials provides a comprehensive overview of tribological properties of hybrid composites. The book offers an understanding of the processes, materials, techniques and mechanisms related to the tribological concepts and includes information on the most recent developments in the field. With contributions from an international panel of experts, the book discusses the synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials, as well as their applications in biotechnological and biomedical fields. The book covers a wide-range of versatile topics such as: Tribological assessment on accelerated aging bones in polymeric condition; Nano fracture and wear testing on natural bones; Tribological behaviour of glass fiber with fillers reinforced hybrid polymer composites and jute/glass hybrid composites; Wear properties of glass fiber hybrid, and acid- and silane-modified CNT filled hybrid glass/kenaf epoxy composites; Hybrid natural fibre composites as a friction material; and much more. This important resource: -Discusses recent advancements in the field of tribology and hybrid materials -Offers a guide for professionals in the fields of materials science, mechanical engineering, biomaterials, chemistry, physics and nanotechnology -Integrates theory, synthesis and properties of nybrid materals as well as their applications -Offers an outlook to the future of this burgeoning technology Written for materials scientists, surface chemists, bioengineers, mechanical engineers, engineering scientists and chemical industry professionals, Synthesis and Tribological Applications of Hybrid Materials is a comprehensive resource that explores the most recent developments in the field.

This text, now in its second edition, offers an up-to-date, expanded treatment of the behaviour of polymers with regard to material variables and test and use conditions. It highlights general principles, useful empirical rules and practical equations.;Detailing the specific behaviour of many common polymers, the text: places emphasis on time and frequency dependence over temperature dependence; uses contemporary molecular mechanisms to explain creep, stress relaxation, constant strain rate responses and crazing; provides explicit equations to predict responses; supplies a discussion of large deformation multiaxial responses; compares statistical and continuum theories on the same data set; and updates stress-strain behaviour and particulate filled systems.