Advancements in polymer nanocomposite foams have led to their application in a variety of fields, such as automotive, packaging, and insulation. Employing nanocomposites in foam formation enhances their property profiles, enabling a broader range of uses, from conventional to advanced applications. Since many factors affect the generation of nanostructured foams, a thorough understanding of structure–property relationships in foams is important. Polymer Nanocomposite Foams presents developments in various aspects of nanocomposite foams, providing information on using composite nanotechnology for making functional foams to serve a variety of applications. Featuring contributions from experts in the field, this book reviews synthesis and processing techniques for preparing poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite foams and discusses strategies for toughening polymer foams. It summarizes the effects of adding nanoclay on polypropylene foaming behavior and describes routes to starch foams for improved performance. The books also reviews progress in achieving high-performance lightweight polymer nanocomposite foams while keeping desired mechanical properties, examines hybrid polyurethane nanocomposite foams, and covers polymer–clay nanocomposite production. The final chapters present recent advances in the field of carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposite aerogels and related materials as well as a review of the nanocomposite foams generated from high-performance thermoplastics. Summing up the most recent research developments in the area of polymer nanocomposite foams, this book provides background information for readers new to the field and serves as a reference text for researchers.

Polymer nanocomposite foams have attracted tremendous interests due to their multifunctional properties in addition to the inherited lightweight benefit of being foamed materials. Polymer nanocomposite foams using high performance polymer and bio-degradable polymer with carbon nanotubes were fabricated, and the effects of foam density and pore size on properties were characterized. Electrical conductivity modeling of polymer nanocomposite foams was conducted to investigate the effects of density and pore size. High performance polymer Polyetherimide (PEI) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites and their foams were fabricated using solvent-casting and solid-state foaming under different foaming conditions. Addition of MWCNTs has little effect on the storage modulus of the nanocomposites. High glass transition temperature of PEI matrix was maintained in the PEI/MWCNT nanocomposites and foams. Volume electrical conductivities of the nanocomposite foams beyond the percolation threshold were within the range of electro-dissipative materials according to the ANSI/ESD standard, which indicates that these lightweight materials could be suitable for electro-static dissipation applications with high temperature requirements. Biodegradable Polylactic acid (PLA) and MWCNT nanocomposites and their foams were fabricated using melt-blending and solid-state foaming under different foaming conditions. Addition of MWCNTs increased the storage modulus of PLA/MWCNT composites. By foaming, the glass transition temperature increased. Volume electrical conductivities of foams with MWCNT contents beyond the percolation threshold were again within the range of electro-dissipative materials according to the ANSI/ESD standard. The foams with a saturation pressure of 2 MPa and foaming temperature of 100 °C showed a weight reduction of 90% without the sacrifice of electrical conductivity. This result is promising in terms of multi-functionality and material saving. At a given CNT loading expressed as volume percent, the electrical conductivity increased significantly as porosity increased. A Monte-Carlo simulation model was developed to understand and predict the electrical conductivity of polymer/MWCNT nanocomposite foams. Two different foam morphologies were considered, designated as Case 1: volume expansion without nanotube rearrangement, and Case 2: nanotube aggregation in cell walls. Simulation results from unfoamed nanocomposites and the Case 1 model were validated with experimental data. The results were in good agreement with those from PEI/MWCNT nanocomposites and their foams, which had a similar microstructure as modeled in Case 1. Porosity effects on electrical conductivity were investigated for both Case 1 and Case 2 models. There was no porosity effect on electrical conductivity at a given volume percent CNT loading for Case 1. However, for Case 2 the electrical conductivity increased as porosity increased. Pore size effect was investigated using the Case 2 model. As pore size increased, the electrical conductivity also increased. Electrical conductivity prediction of foamed polymer nanocomposites using FEM was performed. The results obtained from FEM were compared with those from the Monte-Carlo simulation method. Feasibility of using FEM to predict the electrical conductivity of foamed polymer nanocomposites was discussed. FEM was able to predict the electrical conductivity of polymer nanocomposite foams represented by the Case 2 model with various porosities. However, it could not capture the pore size effect in the electrical conductivity prediction. The FEM simulation can be utilized to predict the electrical conductivity of Case 2 foams when the percolation threshold is determined by Monte-Carlo simulation to save the computational time. This has only been verified when the pore size is small in the range of a few micrometers.

Manufacturing of Nanocomposites with Engineering Plastics collates recent research findings on the manufacturing, properties, and applications of nanocomposites with engineering plastics in one comprehensive volume. The book specifically examines topics of engineering plastics, rheology, thermo-mechanical properties, wear, flame retardancy, modeling, filler surface modification, and more. It represents a ready reference for managers and scholars working in the areas of polymer and nanocomposite materials science, both in industry and academia, and provides introductory information for people new to the field. - Provides a comprehensive review of the most recent research findings - A single one-stop ready reference that assimilates knowledge on the development of nanocomposites with engineering plastics - Contributions from leading experts in the field - Provides examples of applications that will help with material selection - Chapters are designed to provide not only introductory information, but also to lead the reader to more advanced characterization tools

Foamability of Thermoplastic Polymeric Materials presents a cutting-edge approach to thermoplastic polymeric foams, drawing on the latest research and guiding the reader through the fundamental science, foamability, structure-property-processing relationship, multi-phase polymeric materials, degradation characteristics of biodegradable foams and advanced applications. Sections provide detailed information on foam manufacturing technologies and the fundamental science behind foaming, present insights on the factors affecting foamability, cover ways of enhancing the foamability of various polymeric materials, with special focus on multi-phase systems, discuss the degradation of biodegradable foams and special morphology development for scaffolds, packaging, acoustic and super-insulation applications, as well as cell seeding studies in scaffolds. Each application has specific requirements in terms of desired properties. This in-depth coverage and analysis helps those looking to move forward with microcellular processing and polymer foaming. This is an ideal resource for researchers, advanced students and professionals interested in the microcellular processing of polymeric materials in the areas of polymer foaming, polymer processing, plastics engineering and materials science. - Offers in-depth coverage of factors affecting foamability and methods for enhancing the foamability of polymeric materials - Explores innovative applications in a range of areas, including scaffolds, acoustic applications, packaging and super-insulation - Provides a comprehensive, critical overview of the state-of-the-art, possible future research directions, and opportunities for industrial application

Over the past decades, alternative sources of energy have been the subject of extensive research due to the scarcity of fossil fuels and international concerns on greenhouse gas emission. Considerable efforts have been focused on developing thermoelectric (TE) materials and their applications in waste heat recovery, power generation, and refrigeration. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can harvest energy by converting waste heat into electricity. The advantages of TE power generators include solid-state operation, maintenance-free with long life-span, and negligible emission of greenhouse gases. Conventional semiconducting TE materials, as todays TE materials of choice, have many disadvantages such as high cost, scarcity, and toxicity. In recent years, organic TE materials have attracted more attention because of their various advantages, such as light weight, low cost, flexibility, and simple synthesis. However, compared with their semiconducting counterparts, polymers have lower TE efficiencies, which have limited their applications. A fundamental challenge to improve the efficiency of polymeric TE materials is to simultaneously enhance their Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity while suppressing their thermal conductivity. In this context, the materials would have the electrical properties of a crystalline material and the thermal properties of an amorphous or glass-like material. The proposed research aims to develop micro-and-nano structuring strategies, as novel processing techniques, to design and fabricate organic materials with promising TE efficiencies for future TEGs. Achieving this objective requires decoupling the highly interconnected TE parameters. The main idea of this research is to decrease the thermal conductivity of the material system by introducing a cellular structure in the bulk of material. Furthermore, incorporating carbon nanoparticles as conducting fillers will help to improve the electrical conductivity of polymeric materials. As a result, the thermoelectric performance of the material system would be significantly enhanced. This study showed that microcellular foaming is highly effective in enhancing the TE efficiency of polymer nanocomposites. The result of this research suggests micro/nano-cellular foaming as a novel fabrication method to promote the TE efficiency of polymeric materials. The proposed method provides an opportunity to develop polymer-based materials, as an environmentally friendly alternative for their semiconducting counterparts, for green energy harvesting.

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.

The book series 'Polymer Nano-, Micro- and Macrocomposites' provides complete and comprehensive information on all important aspects of polymer composite research and development, including, but not limited to synthesis, filler modification, modeling, characterization as well as application and commercialization issues. Each book focuses on a particular topic and gives a balanced in-depth overview of the respective subfield of polymer composite science and its relation to industrial applications. With the books the readers obtain dedicated resources with information relevant to their research, thereby helping to save time and money. Summarizing all the most important synthesis techniques used in the lab as well as in industry, this book is comprehensive in its coverage from chemical, physical and mechanical viewpoints. This book helps readers to choose the correct synthesis route, such as suspension and miniemulsion polymerization, living polymerization, sonication, mechanical methods or the use of radiation, and so achieve the desired composite properties.

Graphene to Polymer/Graphene Nanocomposites: Emerging Research and Opportunities brings together the latest advances and cutting-edge methods in polymer/graphene nanocomposites that offer attractive properties and features, leading to a broad range of valuable applications. The initial chapters of this book explain preparation, properties, modification, and applications of graphene and graphene-based multifunctional polymeric nanocomposites. Later, the state-of-the-art potential of polymer/graphene nanocomposites for hierarchical nanofoams, graphene quantum dots, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene nanoribbons, etc., has been elucidated. The subsequent chapters focus on specific innovations and applications including stimuli-responsive graphene-based materials, anticorrosive coatings, applications in electronics and energy devices, gas separation and filtration membrane applications, aerospace applications, and biomedical applications. Throughout the book, challenges, and future opportunities in the field of polymer/graphene nanocomposites are discussed and analyzed. This is an important resource for researchers, scientists, and students/academics working with graphene and across the fields of polymer composites, nanomaterials, polymer science, chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, and engineering, as well those in an industrial setting who are interested in graphene or innovative materials. Explores the fundamentals, preparation, properties, processing, and applications of graphene and multifunctional polymer-graphene nanocomposites. Focuses on the state of the art including topics such as nano-foam architectures, graphene quantum dots, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene nanoribbons, and other graphene nanostructures. Provides advanced applications including shape memory materials, anticorrosion materials, electronics and energy devices, gas separation and filtration membranes, aerospace relevance, and biomedical applications.

This Special Issue deals with the fascinating material class of nanocomposites consisting of extremely small particles (nanoparticles) which are embedded in polymers. Such materials are of paramount interest in various disciplines, especially chemistry, physics, biomedicine and materials science. Due to the diversity of the components of nanocomposites, they provide a broad spectrum of material properties and applications. The versatility of nanocomposites is indeed reflected by the research covered in this Special Issue. The field of nanocomposites includes innovative science and a source of inspiration for currently relevant economic topics as well as for envisaged technologies of the future. Indeed, this volume alludes to strategies for the preparation of nanocomposites and possibilities for a variety of applications, such as catalytic reactions, gas barriers, high refractive index materials, corrosion protection, electromagnetic inference (EMI) shielding, lithium ion batteries, tissue engineering and plastic surgery.

Polymer Nanocomposite Materials Discover an authoritative overview of zero-, one-, and two-dimensional polymer nanomaterials Polymer Nanocomposite Materials: Applications in Integrated Electronic Devices delivers an original and insightful treatment of polymer nanocomposite applications in energy, information, and biotechnology. The book systematically reviews the preparation and characterization of polymer nanocomposites from zero-, one-, and two-dimensional nanomaterials. The two distinguished editors have selected resources that thoroughly explore the applications of polymer nanocomposites in energy, information, and biotechnology devices like sensors, solar cells, data storage devices, and artificial synapses. Academic researchers and professional developers alike will enjoy one of the first books on the subject of this environmentally friendly and versatile new technology. Polymer Nanocomposite Materials discusses challenges associated with the devices and materials, possible strategies for future directions of the technology, and the possible commercial applications of electronic devices built on these materials. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the fabrication of conductive polymer composites and their applications in sensors An exploration of biodegradable polymer nanocomposites for electronics and polymer nanocomposites for photodetectors Practical discussions of polymer nanocomposites for pressure sensors and the application of polymer nanocomposites in energy storage devices An examination of functional polymer nanocomposites for triboelectric nanogenerators and resistive switching memory Perfect for materials scientists and polymer chemists, Polymer Nanocomposite Materials: Applications in Integrated Electronic Devices will also earn a place in the libraries of sensor developers, electrical engineers, and other professionals working in the sensor industry seeking an authoritative one-stop reference for nanocomposite applications.