Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials, Functionalization

This unique multidisciplinary 8-volume set focuses on the emerging issues concerning synthesis, characterization, design, manufacturing and various other aspects of composite materials from renewable materials and provides a shared platform for both researcher and industry.

The Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials comprises a set of 8 individual volumes that brings an interdisciplinary perspective to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the interplay between the synthesis, structure, characterization, processing, applications and performance of these advanced materials. The Handbook comprises 169 chapters from world renowned experts covering a multitude of natural polymers/ reinforcement/ fillers and biodegradable materials.

Volume 4 is solely focused on the Functionalization of renewable materials. Some of the important topics include but not limited to: Chitosan-based bio sorbents; oil spill clean-up by textiles; pyridine and bipyridine end-functionalized polylactide; functional separation membranes from chitin and chitosan derivatives; acrylated epoxidized flaxseed oil bio-resin and its biocomposites; encapsulation of inorganic renewable nanofiller; chitosan coating on textile fibers for functional properties; surface functionalization of cellulose whiskers for nonpolar composites; impact of chemical treatment and the manufacturing process on mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of natural fibers based composites; bio-polymers modification; review on fibers from natural resources; strategies to improve the functionality of starch based films; the effect of gamma-radiation on biodegradability of natural fibers; surface functionalization through vapor-phase assisted surface polymerization (VASP) on natural materials from agricultural by-products; okra bast fiber as potential reinforcement element of biocomposites; silane coupling agent used in natural fiber/plastic composites; composites of olefin polymer /natural fibers: the surface modifications on natural fibers; surface functionalization of biomaterials; thermal and mechanical behaviors of bio-renewable fibres based polymer composites; natural and artificial diversification of starch; role of radiation and surface modification on bio-fiber for reinforced polymer composites.

Vijay Kumar Thakur is a Lecturer in the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing Engineering, Cranfield University, UK. Previously he had been a Staff Scientist in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University, USA. He spent his postdoctoral study in Materials Science & Engineering at Iowa State University, USA, and gained his PhD in Polymer Chemistry (2009) at the National Institute of Technology, India. He has published more than 90 SCI journal research articles in the field of polymers/materials science and holds one US patent. He has also published about 25 books and 33 book chapters on the advanced state-of-the-art of polymers/materials science with numerous publishers, including Wiley-Scrivener.

Manju Kumar Thakur has been working as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Division of Chemistry, Govt. Degree College Sarkaghat Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India since 2010. She received her PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the Chemistry Department at Himachal Pradesh University. She has deep experience in the field of organic chemistry, biopolymers, composites/ nanocomposites, hydrogels, applications of hydrogels in the removal of toxic heavy metal ions, drug delivery etc. She has published more than 30 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, 25 book chapters and co-authored five books all in the field of polymeric materials.

Michael R. Kessler is a Professor and Director of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University, USA. He is an expert in the mechanics, processing, and characterization of polymer matrix composites and nanocomposites. His honours include the Army Research Office Young Investigator Award, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award, the NSF CAREER Award, and the Elsevier Young Composites Researcher Award from the American Society for Composites. He has more than 150 journal articles and 5800 citations, holds 6 patents, published 5 books on the synthesis and characterization of polymer materials, and presented at least 200 talks at national and international meetings.