Nano- and Micro-Mechanics of Polymer Blends and Composites

Covering in-depth structural investigations of polymeric micro- and nanocomposites as well as molecular modeling using different approaches and techniques, this volume's 15 chapters are presented by Karger- Kocsis (polymer engineering, Budapest U. of Technology and Economics, Hungary) and Fakirov (mechanical engineering, U. of Auckland, New Zealand) with the intention of demonstrating that a multiscale approach is the right means for understanding the structure-property relationships of these materials. Topics include nano- and micromechanics of crystalline polymers; modeling mechanical properties of segmented polyurethanes; fabrication and mechanical properties of nanoparticles and polymer composites; new developments in rubber nanocomposites; manufacturing, modeling, and applications of organoclay, particulate, and nanofibril reinforced polymer-polymer composites; viscoelasticity of amorphous polymer nanocomposites with individual nanoparticles; interphase phenomena in polymer micro- and nanocomposites; deformation behavior of nanocomposites studies by x-ray scattering; creep and fatigue behavior of polymer nanocomposites; deformation mechanisms of functionalized carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites; fracture properties and mechanisms of polyamide/clay nanocomposites; the toughness of nanomodified polymers and their traditional polymer composites; microhardness of polymer systems containing a soft component and/or phase; Monte Carlo simulations of nanoparticle reinforcement of elastomers; and modeling of polymer nanocomposites for a multiscale approach. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)